By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            Bronson Town Council members announced their paid vacation schedule again this year.

            Council members will be taking off the entire month of October. They will be paid for the two monthly meetings they don’t attend.

            Mayor Robert Partin said the council takes off October because of the hard work they put in working on the town budget.

            Rank and file council members earn $500 per month and the mayor $800 per month.

            Bronson is the only city in Levy County that pays its elected officials to take a vacation.

            The new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, 2022, and concludes on Sept. 30, 2023.

            As part of their year-end wrap-up, the council selected Robert Partin to serve another year as mayor and Jason Hunt to serve another year as vice president.

            Higher Garbage Rate

            Council members were informed that GFL, the company’s garbage disposal company is raising residential rates by 22 cents per month.

            The total monthly rate is now $7.48 per month.

            A couple of months ago the company was also approved for a fuel adjustment charge to compensate the company for high fuel costs.

            Postponing Zoning Approval

            Council members were poised to give zoning approval for an RV Park for owner Mario Spadavecchia when Town Attorney Steven Warm halted the process.

            Warm said the change of zoning could only be approved by preparing an ordinance for approval by the council. Town Manager Susan Beaudet had not prepared an ordinance.

            The town attorney said the council could indicate to the park owner that it was prepared to give approval after the ordinance was prepared. Hunt told Spadaveccia the council liked the project and would approve it.

            The town will also have to figure out whether the property should be zoned C-1 or C-2. The town’s building inspector wasn’t sure which zoning category would be appropriate. Warm said the building inspector should consult with him on which zoning category should be used.

            Fire Chief Raise

            Bronson Fire Rescue Chief Dennis Russell was given a pay raise. His monthly pay was increased from a $700 per month salary plus fire calls to $1,600 per month.

            Russell had been assigned to desk duty after a spider bite on his foot resulted in major surgery, but he said he responded to 20 calls last month, an indication the foot has healed.

            No Restitution to Town

            A teenager who tore up one of the bathrooms at James H. Cobb Park won’t have to pay the city any restitution, according to Town Clerk Wendy Maragh.

            Somehow, papers filed in county court failed to mention any restitution to the town. The teen will have to do community work as part of his punishment, but not for the town.

            Councilwoman Sherrie Schuler asked about the status of the case at Monday’s council meeting. She had mentioned several months ago that the teenager should be required to reimburse the town for damages or do community work for the town, or both.

            It didn’t happen.

            Maragh said the mother of the teen has offered to make restitution, but said she isn’t required to do so.

            Schuler said any future cases like this one involving damage at the park should involve restitution to the city.

            The town has set up security cameras in the park. One of the security cameras snapped a photo of the teen coming out of the bathroom around the time of the vandalism.

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Town of Bronson Regular Meeting September 19, 2022; Posted September 20, 2022