Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/356321
Pointing out that she could have closed down Bob's Boathouse months ago but elected instead to give it an opportunity to thrive, Sarasota County Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Meg Wittmer on July 25 ordered t h a t t h e b u s i n e s s pay almost $4,100 in penalties for not com- pleting a "punch list" of items necessary to obtain its Certificate of Occupancy according to a timeline she estab- lished on March 21. "I do have the right to issue a Cease and Desist order," she told Sarasota attorney James E. Aker, who has been representing Bob's Boathouse in the case. "But we decided not to do that. We decided … let's all of us work together so Sarasota County can benefit from a successful busi- ness, a restaurant." H o w e v e r , s h e c o n t i n u e d a f t e r a two-and-a-half-hour hearing, "There was l o t s o f c o m p e t e n t Michael Seery (left) and attorney James Aker confer during the July 25 proceedings. Photo by Rachel Hackney PENALTIES IMPOSED A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE ORDERS BOB'S BOATHOUSE TO PAY ABOUT $4,100 FOR FAILING TO MEET HER DEADLINES FOR COMPLETING ITEMS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN ITS CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY I distinctly remember us all sitting at this table and discussing each and every deadline. … And I said to everyone that day that I was going to hold firm on those dates. Meg Wittmer Special Magistrate Sarasota County By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor