Pinellas County Commission. The afternoon portion of the meeting’s nearly finished. All the hairy issues have been put to bed. Very soon there will be a break. Thank God.
“Agenda item 33 is my appointment to the PSTA Board,” says Commission Chairman John Morroni. He’s wearing a gray suit and tie with a light blue shirt. Gray suits are nice. You can look like James Bond in a gray suit. You can look like Pee-wee Herman too.
“I’d like to reappoint Commissioner [Janet] Long,” continues Marroni. “Her term was expiring on October 1. We probably should have done this the last tim–“
“Move of approval,” a voice says, as does another, nearly simultaneously, and commission members start to laugh, then people in the audience start to laugh.
“I can’t even finish,” says Marroni and people laugh more. “Whoa–“
“This is a six-year term?” says Commissioner Charlie Justice, who is sitting just to the left of Marroni from the audience’s perspective, and more laughs come. The term is actually for three years.
“The county clerk didn’t pick up on that,” says Morroni, taming the lions, as the laughter lingers. “Who made the motion?”
Commissioner Ken Welch raises his hand, as does Commissioner Dave Eggers. People laugh a little more and Chairman Marroni credits Welch with the move of approval and Eggers with seconding it.
“Well, we’re on the committee with her,” says Eggers, as laughs and giggles continue to float around commission chambers.
“We’re co-committee PSTA Board members here,” adds Welch. “She’s got to come back.”
Things are fun. For everyone.
“All those in favor of Commissioner Long coming back for six years?” says Marroni and people still enjoy the six-year joke, most laugh.
“All-righty,” says Long. “I like that.”
“Say aye,” says Marroni.
“Aye,” Commission says simultaneously.
“So that passes unanimously,” says Marroni. “It’s only for three, but–” and one last chuckle seeps out from a few.
In addition to her role as District 1 Pinellas County Commissioner, Long also serves as the secretary/treasurer of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA). She’s also part of the PSTA’s Executive Committee, Nominating Committee and its Planning Committee. Long’s other appointments by the Board of County Commissioners include the Pinellas County Charter Review Commission, the Health and Human Services Leadership Board, the Homeless Leadership Board, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council Executive Committee, and the Industry Certification Training Centers Governing Board.
