By Tim O’Meilia
The youngest person to be named mayor of Briny Breezes since Hugh David 50 years ago was unanimously appointed Oct. 24 by the Town Council. Gerry Devine, 38, a corporate attorney for Cisco Systems with offices in Fort Lauderdale, will complete the five months remaining on retiring Mayor Roger Bennett’s one-year term.
Devine, his wife and two young children bought a lot in District 4 earlier this year and are installing a three-bedroom mobile home. “We have plans to be here til the kids sell it out from under us some day,” Devine said after he was elected.
He was chosen over Lynn Weiner, a 16-year resident, who also applied for the position. Aldermen wanted to appoint a new mayor rather than having to wait another month, which would require a townwide election, an expense they wanted to avoid.
Alderman and Town Clerk Nancy Boczon nominated Devine. No second is required.
Devine, originally from Long Island, said he has visited the oceanside town frequently since an uncle moved here in 1974. He said he spent a year and a half looking for the perfect spot.
“From the beginning, I got a lot of advice from people, telling me where I should buy or not buy and where to park and not park,” he joked. “I went right to the corporate offices to get a temporary parking pass.”
He said he researched the town’s history, its character and was impressed by its 600 feet of private beach and 1,000 feet along the Intracoastal Waterway.
“It’s about finding a wonderful place for your kids, a place filled with surrogate grandparents your kids can learn fishing and boating from,” he said.
Devine said that Briny faces challenges in the coming years, including dealing with the park’s aging infrastructure. “We have to figure ways to update without burdening people with too much additional financial expense,” he said.
He said the council is solid and he wants to maintain a good relationship with the board members of the corporation, which owns the town through its home-owning shareholders.
Devine said he would depend on the retiring Bennett for advice in his new post. “I don’t want all that knowledge to just walk out the door,” he said.
Bennett, who resigned after seven years as mayor because of health concerns, was honored at a farewell reception after the meeting. About 25 people attended the meeting, most wearing slacks and dresses, rather than the usual Briny meeting attire of beach shirts, cargo shorts and flip-flops.
“Maybe we could get more than the usual three people to our next meeting too,” cracked Alderman Karen Wiggins.
In other business, aldermen:
• Retained attorney John Skrandel to succeed his father, Jerome, as town attorney. Jerome Skrandel died in September after serving the town for four decades.
• Changed the council meetings dates in coming months to Nov. 21 and Dec. 19 at 4 p.m.
Comments