WEEK OF MARCH 22, 2023
Volume 38, number 12
Town committee shut down over Sunshine Law concerns By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
An ad-hoc committee on permitting formed last month by some members of the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council and town manager informally outside of the town’s normal public advisory committee process, has been shut down after Town Attorney John Herin Jr. said he received an opinion from the State Attorney General’s Office that the com-
mittee could be violating the state’s open meeting laws. The committee had been meeting without any notice to the public to discuss town permitting issues in a setting that included discussions with contractors and town staff. The committee had been formed, town officials said at the time, at the suggestion of contractors seeking to advance the town’s permitting process. The town did not make any notice to
the public that the group was meeting until after two meetings had already been held. Herin said he discussed the matter with the State Sttorney General’s Office and their in-house counsel who specializes in Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law and public records law. “The advice that we received verbally from her was that we should err on the side of caution, not expose those members
of that committee to potential claims of a Sunshine violation. A broad reading of the law says that ad-hoc committees that make recommendations and advise governing bodies are subject to the Sunshine Law,” Herin started. Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said interim Town Manager Keith Wilkins is still meeting one-on-one with members of the committee. “He just See COMMITTEE, page 10
Martin steps down as fire chief By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Matanzas Inn opens, Matanzas on the Bay next By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
D
oug Speirn-Smith lost one of his businesses on Fort Myers Beach for good. The PierSide Grill and Famous Blowfish Bar, which stood next to the Fort Myers Beach Pier at one of the most prominent spots at Times Square for more than two decades, was forever blown into the Gulf of Mexico by Hurricane Ian and will not be rebuilt. Speirn-Smith co-owned that business but not the property. Luckily for SpeirnSmith, his other businesses survived including the Matanzas Inn which opened this month, and the restaurant Matanzas on the Bay which is expected to partially open in the next week. His other business, the Harbor House, has remained open since electric returned to
We will have the pizza.” —DOUG SPEIRN-SMITH owner of Matanzas on the Bay, on the planned reopening of Petey’s Upper Deck. Fort Myers Beach after Hurricane Ian. “We’re excited to be open and we have nine units open and we’re going to open another 10 next week,” SpeirnSmith said of the Matanzas Inn. The motel/resort sits adjacent to Matanzas on the Bay on Crescent Street, a block down from where Margaritaville Resort is going up. The resort overlooks Matanzas Pass and the bay. The pool is also open. “We hope to have (Petey’s) Upper Deck in the next two to three weeks,”
Speirn-Smith said. “We will have the pizza.” He said the dining room at Matanzas on the Bay, one of the island’s venerated See MATANZAS INN, page 10 Matanzas Inn has reopened on Crescent Street, with nine rooms at the motel/resort available to rent. The patio at Matanzas on the Bay restaurant next door and Petey’s Upper Deck could open as soon as next week. FILE PHOTO
Fort Myers Beach Fire District Chief Ronald Martin announced his resignation effective Friday. “Chief Martin cited personal reasons for his resignation,” Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Fire Official J e n n i f e r Campbell stated in an email announcing Martin’s letter of Ronald resignation. Martin “The District would like to thank Chief Martin for his years of service to the citizens and visitors of Fort Myers Beach and wishes him well in his future endeavors. District Chief Scott Wirth will be serving as the Acting Fire Chief,” Campbell stated. Martin, who was with the department for approximately 20 years, took over as chief from former Chief Matthew Love in 2021 after previously serving as the executive assistant chief of fire services. The Fort Myers Beach Board of Fire Commissioners also recently had a change in leadership when John Bennett took over as chair of the board from Larry Wood in December. Wirth, who has been with the district for the past five years, said Martin “served the Fort Myers Beach community with caring, professional service. Chief Martin started as a firefighter and moved through the ranks to Fire Chief where he led the department through, arguably, the worst natural disaster in Lee County’s history.” Wirth thanked Martin “for his service
Commentary................................4 Beach Living............................................8 insidetoday Guest Business..................................................6 Beach Bulletin..................................13-20
See MARTIN, page 11
Classifieds.............22