Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners Regular Session - November 18, 2025

The Board of Commissioners of the City of Tarpon Springs met in regular session on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM at City Hall Auditorium. The meeting included public comments, approval of consent agenda items, appointments to boards and committees, updates to city employee rules, a first reading of a background check ordinance, and budget resolutions.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1 through 10 were approved unanimously via roll call vote. These included attorney fees, special event permits (Lambatha: Light Up the Bayou 2025 and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Parade/March Celebration 2026), equipment purchases and contract renewals for various city departments.
• Item 11 (Allow existing meter reading/billing agreement with Harbour Watch to expire on February 2, 2026) was pulled by Vice Mayor Eisner for discussion. Staff explained the agreement was the only master meter community where submetering was offered as a service and the arrangement created billing discrepancies. The board voted unanimously to allow the agreement to expire.
• Item 12 (Award File No. Invitation to Bid 260014-B-JL, Fire Station 70 Generator-Transfer Switch) was pulled by Vice Mayor Eisner. Bob Robertson, Project Administration Director, explained that purchasing the generator for $163,000 was significantly more cost-effective than leasing (lease cost would have been $10,520 per month, total over 10 years $1.2 million vs. purchase/ownership of $483,000). The board voted unanimously to approve the purchase.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Linda Eisner (1515 Riverside Drive) expressed gratitude to Jonathan Metcalfe, owner of Tarpon Discount Grocery, for donating food for a Thanksgiving food drive. She described his generosity as a "big shout out."
• Brennan Hager (new Waste Management representative, 317 35th Avenue North, St. Petersburg) introduced himself and reported working with city staff on recycling initiatives, including a tour of the Tampa Recycling Facility with the Sustainability Advisory Committee. He noted a new recycling facility is expected to open in 2027.
• Peter Lacks (514 Ashland Avenue) read from Proverbs 16 and then delivered a speech on righteous anger, referencing biblical themes and criticizing immigration enforcement ("the incarceration and grabbing of people off the streets under the pretense of criminal immigrants").
• Lori Weaver (451 East Harpen Avenue) suggested that Vice Mayor Eisner's shuttle proposal be included in the city's visitor's guide, which is currently in proof. She asked that printing be delayed to allow inclusion of shuttle route information.
• John Saxer (no address given) thanked the commission and asked for the return of a stone anchor he claimed was removed from a location he agreed upon with a former city manager. He asserted the stone is an "ancient stone anchor from the fleet of Atlantis" and demanded its restoration or return.
• John Stabbers (1006 Cough Road, Tarpon Springs since 1984) complained about a neighbor's three houses with chickens that are fenced, causing cat flea infestations and raccoon issues. He asked about rules for chickens per household and fencing rights. He was directed to contact the city manager.
• Juliana Day (413 East Oakwood Street) praised the "Longest Table" event and suggested it become permanent. She also complained about recycling containers being too small and garbage collectors confusing bins.
• Craig Lunt (743 Chesapeake Drive) thanked Finance Director Ron Herring for his attention to detail but noted that in the budget resolution, the revised expenditure totals did not seem to add up from the numbers presented. Herring clarified that excess funds from some departments were used to cover deficits in others without drawing from reserves.

Discussion Items

• Public Art Committee Appointments (Item 13): City Clerk Irene Jacobs reported four vacancies and one new applicant (Jean Dinoff) plus the reappointment of Martha Hickey. The board voted unanimously to appoint both.
• Code Enforcement Board Appointments (Item 14): Jacobs presented options to move Alternate 1 Robert Paul and Alternate 2 Margaret Kern to regular vacancies, and to reappoint George Stefan. The board approved moving Paul and Kern up, then appointed Audrey for Alternate 1 and Penny for Alternate 2, and reappointed Stefan. Unanimous vote.
• Planning and Zoning Board Appointments (Item 15): Jacobs recommended reappointing Justin Vesey (one-year term), Robert Rockline, Matthew Collins (regular members), and Julie Wade (alternate). The board voted unanimously to reappoint all four.
• City Rules Updates (Item 16): Human Resources Director Tabatha Adkins presented updates to five employee rules: Rules 4 and 5 (language updates for technology/hiring), Rule 6 (probationary period – allowing probationary employees to use accrued vacation), Rule 11 (vacation accrual – increasing leave for 20-year employees from 1 day to 1 week, adding community service leave, and modifying bereavement leave approval), and Rule 19 (new hire procedures – updating background checks and drug testing requirements). Mayor asked about notification of adverse actions against employees. Adkins said general information could be shared. Commissioner Di Donato confirmed payroll will stay weekly. The board voted unanimously to adopt the rule updates.
• Ordinance 2025-19 (1st Reading) – Human Resources Background Checks (Item 17): Tabitha Adkins explained the ordinance is required to allow the Tarpon Springs Police Department to conduct background checks, which would reduce costs by half. The ordinance passed unanimously on first reading (second reading set for December 9, 2025).
• Resolution 2025-63 – Budget Resolution for FY2025 (Item 18): Finance Director Ron Herring presented the final budget resolution for FY2025, budgeting for unanticipated items including remaining ARPA expenditures, police vehicles and boat, and hurricane (Helene/Milton) expenditures that are 100% reimbursable by FEMA. He stated approximately $7.5 million is still owed by FEMA, with $2.5 million already received for debris removal. He expressed concern over slow payment. The board voted unanimously to approve.
• Resolution 2025-64 – Part-time Board and Committee Clerk (Item 19): City Clerk Irene Jacobs requested approval to create a permanent part-time board and committee clerk position (no budget impact) to assist with minute-taking and backlog. The board voted unanimously to approve.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items (1-10) and the two pulled items (11, 12) were approved unanimously.
• All board appointments (Items 13-15) were approved unanimously with specific individuals named.
• The City Rules Updates (Item 16) were adopted unanimously, including changes to probationary leave, vacation accrual, community service leave, bereavement leave, and hiring procedures.
• Ordinance 2025-19 passed on first reading with unanimous support; second reading scheduled for December 9, 2025.
• Resolution 2025-63 (budget amendment) passed unanimously.
• Resolution 2025-64 (part-time clerk position) passed unanimously.
• The meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM following board and staff comments.