Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/264109
Then Merrill said he was not sure his clients would have the matter resolved by April 23. When Patterson asked what other dates were available, it turned out March 5 was the only one remaining. At that point, Patterson said she felt people who had come to the Feb. 19 meeting to speak "should be encouraged to [do so]. It doesn't take away their right to speak later." Vice Chairwoman Christine Robinson and Commissioner Joe Barbetta concurred with that view. DeMarsh noted that in the past, the board had not accepted public comments when a matter was being continued. However, Hines said the board would forgo the staff presentation, but he would let two people address the board who had signed speaker cards for the public hearing. The first, Bruce Appleton, owner of a con- dominium at the Terrace complex, told the board Patterson has "a very good handle" on the petition. He added, "What I would like to suggest is [holding the public hearing] a year from today." Peter van Roekens, a resident of Terrace East, said he also was concerned about delaying the public hearing until April 23. "A lot of peo- ple do leave," he pointed out. Van Roekens added, "I had people fly in from Ohio to be here today, and they were more than slightly annoyed with me when I told them [about the probable continuance]." Regarding the new date, he continued, "If it can't be done sooner, maybe the suggestion [from Appleton] was a good one." Following those comments, Robinson made the motion to continue the public hearing until April 23. "I understand the points of the residents," she said, "[but] we could apply that countywide to any continuance given between the months of January and April." Robinson added to the public, "Keep writing," noting she had acknowledged all the corre- spondence she had received on the petition. Merrill has a reputation for being able to work out matters for his clients, she continued. "I think this is worth the effort ..." Still, she apol- ogized to those who had come to the meeting with the understanding the public hearing would be held that day. Commissioner Carolyn Mason, who seconded the motion, said, "For those who can't come [on April 23], email or write, because that cor- respondence then becomes part of the record on the issue." Barbetta pointed out that the board has always made its decisions on the basis of the quality of correspondence and evidence pro- vided by staff and petitioners. "We never base it on the number of bodies in the audience." He also cautioned that the public hearing could be continued again. "But we have to do business in accordance with 12 months a year countywide." "I see this as a positive," Hines said of the delay, "an opportunity to work and be creative." % Sarasota News Leader February 21, 2014 Page 55