Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/91307
NEW PLANNING COMMISSIONER Sarasota County Commissioners Joe Barbetta (left) and Jon Thaxton both served on the Planning Commission before winning election to the County Commission. File photo FORMER NORTH PORT CITY COMMISSIONER VANESSA CARUSONE WINS APPOINTMENT TO WHAT IS VIEWED AS THE COUNTY COMMISSION'S MOST IMPORTANT ADVISORY BOARD By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor A two-term North Port city commissioner not only has been appointed to fill an unex- pired Sarasota Planning Commission term through December, she also will stay in the seat through December 2016. The Sarasota County Commission voted unan- imously on Oct. 23 to name Vanessa Carusone to the seat recently vacated by Christopher King. Carusone was one of eight people who applied for the position; several of them had sought seats when the County Commission named three people to the Planning Commission on Jan. 24. Although the County Commission had the op- tion of appointing someone just to serve out King's term, which was to end in December, Commissioner Joe Barbetta said it made no sense to put someone on that advisory board for such a short time, only to have to follow up on the action with a four-year appointment in a couple of months. Vice Chairwoman Carolyn Mason nominated Carusone for the seat. No other names were put forth. Carusone's application points out that she is president of the board of Tri-County Counsel- ing & Life Skills Center Inc. in North Port.