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SRQ DAILY Sep 16, 2014

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"We know the biggest impact with the homeless is in the city of Sarasota and by God we are bound to do our part to help this issue."

- Marlon Brown, City of Sarasota
 

[Homelessness]  Panhandling Meters
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

It's been three years since the City of Sarasota anxiously pulled parking meters off the curb. Now officials may finally have a use for the devices—collecting change for the poor.

Sarasota city and county officials are in talks to donate the roughly 30 coin meters still in city possession for use by nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping the homeless. The hope is that the meters could both raise a little bit of revenue for programs and discourage people from giving change to transients begging on the streets.

"We need to do a very good campaign to say 'Stop Enabling.' When you give a homeless person a dollar you don't know what its going to, to alcohol and drugs or to food and shelter," said Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown.

Sarasota City Commissioners on Monday offered consensus in favor of using the meters this way. The city still has meters from its foray into metered parking, a program years in its implementation that cost roughly $600,000 but proved extremely unpopular with merchants downtown. City officials stressed not all of the equipment would be part of the new metered program with the homeless effort, only the coin-use meters and not any of the credit-card pay stations.

"It's an easier way of giving back and participating," said City Commissioner Suzanne Atwell.

City Commissioner Shannon Snyder did express concern that the effort could cost more to implement than it raises in revenue. He noted there is a donation by The Children's Fountain splash pad and it raises only about $50 a year. "We may pay more to paint these parking meters than we will collect," he said.

Brown said that hard cost could be avoided by participating organizations being responsible for repainting the meters, much the way commissioned artists decorated pianos in public spaces around downtown right now. There would be a cost associated with rekeying the meters so only the organizations could access the gathered coins.

The meters likely will be distributed in high foot-traffic areas around the county. Brown said most likely, officials would partner with only one or two organizations, who would use a number of meters. 

[Exec Moves]  Founders Club Welcomes Traugutt

Chef Mark Traugutt has taken over the reins of the culinary program at The Founders Club in Sarasota. Traugutt, a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, is originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., and returned from his studies in France to work at the Michelin-starred LeBernadin in New York City, as well as working as a private chef for several notables including the late composer Marvin Hamlisch. Most recently, he opened The Shore Diner in Sarasota as well as working as executive chef at the Sarasota Bay Club. 

The Founders Club

[Recognition]  McCloud Admitted to Bar of the Supreme Court

F. Gant McCloud, an estate planning attorney and shareholder with the Kirk Pinkerton law firm in Sarasota, was recently admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. Veteran Supreme Court litigator Carter G. Phillips of Sidley Austin made the motion for McCloud’s admission and Chief Justice John Roberts granted the motion. McCloud is board certified in wills, trusts and estates by the Florida Bar and holds the highest peer rating from the independent attorney-rating agency, Martindale-Hubbell.  

Kirk Pinkerton, P.A.

[Exec Moves]  Gambardella Joins RE/MAX

Realtor Kelli Gambardella has joined the University Park office of RE/MAX Alliance Group. She has been an area resident for more than 40 years. Gambardella has been a real estate professional for 10 years, last serving with Wagner Realty. She specializes in residential, vacation and second home properties and her local knowledge and architectural drafting background also help her to expertly serve clients who are looking for new home communities. A graduate of the Realtor Institute, she studied drafting at the Sarasota County Technical Institute. 

RE/MAX Alliance Group

[Exec Moves]  Schroyer Named Public Utilities Director

Scott N. Schroyer has accepted a conditional offer to become Sarasota County's new public utilities director. With more than 30 years of experience in local government, Schroyer has worked for the city of Hudson, Ohio, since 1984, most recently serving as assistant city manager and interim city manager. He has been recognized as a Public Works Leadership Fellow by the American Public Works Association, a role that allows him to serve as a mentor for public works professionals enrolled in the APWA Donald C. Stone Center for Leadership Excellence program. Schroyer is conditionally scheduled to begin working in Sarasota County on Oct. 6. 

Sarasota County Government

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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