Sarasota News Leader

07/11/2014

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ANOTHER DISAGREEMENT Even as various efforts to provide housing and programs to homeless families are moving forward across the county, the lack of prog- ress on the shelter itself was most perceptible this week in an exchange of city and county emails, which conveyed different approaches for the next steps. City Manager Tom Barwin wants to take a fresh look at Marbut's cri- teria for a shelter site, arguing for a search that includes parcels further from the city's urban core. "Another reason we must review Dr. Marbut's criteria is because there is also a glaring, inher- ent contradiction between Dr. Marbut's many statements (and what we saw and heard at Pinellas Safe Harbor) [about] a come as you are jail diversion shelter which featured case- workers and services within the shelter," Barwin wrote in a June 27 email to county staff. County Administrator Tom Harmer points out that at the last joint meeting on the topic held June 23, both commissions made motions that included direction to staff to leave Marbut's suggestions in place as the search for a viable site continues. Harmer said the best route is for city officials to search for potential sites in the city and for county staff to look for par- cels in the county that are close to the city limits. Barwin's email also was a topic of discussion at the July 8 County Commission meeting. "Mr. Barwin's extensive email — it is clear to me he is rejecting everything, and his board did not speak up at all to reject any of that email," Barbetta said. % THE SARASOTA News Leader Old school journalism. 21st century delivery. The award-winning Sarasota News Leader Sarasota County's #1 digital news weekly! Read it online today at SarasotaNewsLeader.com/current The most comprehensive, unbiased coverage of local news and government in the Sarasota County area. Read it on your iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Nook, Android, Laptop, Computer or other Smartphones Available for FREE every Friday Sarasota News Leader July 11, 2014 Page 49

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