Briny Breezes has a new clerk, and she’s both experienced and eager to work — driving north from Broward County a few days a week because she says she likes working for small government.
Shari Canada doesn’t live in Briny or own property here, so the Town Council on May 26 appointed alderman Nancy Boczon as the clerk pro tem, meaning for the time being, and in name only. Canada was then sworn in as deputy clerk.
Canada, 36, of Hollywood, will earn $25,000 a year for the part-time job. She has worked in other municipalities and said she found the job when Briny advertised online with the Florida Association of City Clerks.
Canada jumped right into the role at the May 26 meeting, and said she was thrilled. “I love small towns,” she said.
From 2003 to 2005, she was the town clerk for Southwest Ranches, a small rural community in western Broward County. Following that, she worked for five years in the much larger city of Hallandale Beach, training staff, handling all the agendas and legal advertising and serving as municipal supervisor of elections.
In other action, the council:
• Instructed Mayor Roger Bennett to continue talks with other coastal managers and mayors about the possibility of joining forces for some town services, such as fire and rescue, water and sewer and police. Most coastal towns buy these services from larger municipalities — although Manalapan does have a small water plant. Bennett said it might be worth discussing consolidation of services along the coast.
• Heard a direct and rather plaintive speech from Town Manager Steve Best, who asked that council members and town residents remember how special Briny Breezes is and keep in mind that everyone should work together. The corporate side of Briny has recently held back on paying $30,000 of town expenses that council members assumed it would pay. Corporation Board President Mike Gut has said the board is unhappy with high attorney fees.
Best has been on the job about a year and said he knew little about Briny’s down-home uniqueness until he took the job.
“I’m sure if you talk to some people, they’re going to tell you this whole thing stinks,” said Best, referring to the disagreement between Briny’s corporate and government factions.
“Please come back to my board of directors with more explanation. The goal is to get it resolved.”
Comments