Maitland City Talk

Moving Maitland forward

Last Tuesday Maitland held elections for two City Council seats. Vice Mayor Bev Reponen who was serving in Seat 3 was termed out and Councilman Jeff Flowers was serving temporarily in Seat 4 due to the vacancy created by the resignation last year of Councilman Phil Bonus. I want to first thank Bev Reponen for her dedicated service on Council these past six years. Prior to her serving on City Council, she had served over the past 20 years on many city boards and committees. Jeff Flowers, who is a former vice mayor of Maitland, has also dedicated many years of service to our city including the creation our latest cultural partner, Performing Arts of Maitland, with his wife June. Both of these exceptional citizens are former “Volunteers of the Year.” They epitomize and set the bar for dedication to our city that we should all aspire to.

The new candidates running for Seat 3 were Renee Stein Charlan and Joy M. Goff-Marcil. Charlie Adkins and John P. Lowndes were the new candidates running for Seat 4. It was great to see the increased interest in serving on our City Council as in the past recent years candidates would win terms being unopposed. The election was very spirited and after all the votes were counted Joy M. Goff-Marcil was elected to Seat 3 and John P. Lowndes was elected to seat 4. A hardy congratulations is in order for both of them, and I want to welcome them as new members to our City Council. I would also like the thank both Renee Stein Charlan and Charlie Adkins for their dedicated interest in serving Maitland on our City Council, and hope that they will stay involved by volunteering to serve on city boards and participating actively in City Council meetings to help move our city forward.

Now that the election is over, it is important that all Maitland citizens come together and work to make Maitland the best that it can be. With SunRail coming, the implementation of railway crossing “Quiet Zones,” the Flex Bus demonstration project, new proposed road transportation improvements, new proposed development and redevelopment throughout our city especially in our downtown area, working with our legislators in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., to maintain and enhance the revenues to our city and achieving sustainability of our police and fire pension fund are all exciting opportunities and challenges facing Maitland.

The prospects for 2013 and beyond look very encouraging. With the dedication and enthusiasm of our City Council, city volunteer boards and city staff, anything is possible for Maitland. These energetic people and our dedicated, enthusiastic and supportive citizens inspire me. They, along with my great love of our city, are the reasons why I love being your mayor. We should all look forward to Maitland’s bright future with great anticipation.

City Council Agenda of March 25, 2013

City Council meets the second and fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for March 25 in the Council Chambers, 1776 Independence Lane. Below is the agenda for that meeting.

Public Hearing:

• Petition No.2012-02 (ALU) Maitland Concourse North

Consent Agenda:

• Approve Council Minutes of March 11, 2013

• Approve Downtown Transportation/Traffic Workshop Minutes of March 4, 2013

• Receive Special Meeting Minutes of the City of Maitland Canvassing Board

• 2013 Holiday Park Operating Hours

• Facility Use Agreement Renewal – Cottage at Lake Lily – Maitland Art & History Association

Decision Items:

• Policy for establishing responsibility for the promotion of new businesses coming into the city – Requested by Councilwoman Reponen

• Maitland Public Library Historical Status

For updates, please check our website at itsmymaitland.com