Bluffs Puts Issue of Fireighters' Pension to RestBy Leo Coughlin BELLEAIR BLUFFS - One member of the City Commission, Joe Barkley, continued to raise the question of the pension status of Belleair Bluffs firefighters who have transitioned to Largo Fire & Rescue apparently unaware that that train has left the station. Barkley raised the question at Monday night's commission meeting, wondering why Largo has not done an actuarial pension study pertaining to the firefighters and their new association with Largo. Simply enough, Mayor Chris Arbutine said, because Largo has already made its decision regarding the employees it is taking on from the Bluffs. No soap. Pension rights and benefits that firefighters earned and accumulated while in the employ of Belleair Bluffs will be equitably settled, according to Arbutine. "It will cost us probably a couple hundred thousand dollars," Arbutine said, "but we have to come to a fair conclusion with these firefighters." In other action at Monday's meeting, Tony Hornick of Pinellas County, who was project manager of the new causeway bridge, presented the city with the plaque that had been on the old bridge. Weighing about 50 pounds, the big artifact will become part of Belleair Bluffs' city museum. The commission re-appointed the following to the Board of Adjustment - Paul Kuykendall, Al DeMarco, Peter Ferrara, Randy Greenbaum and Nicole Ramirez. An alternate member is being sought. Anyone interested should contact City Hall. Re-appointed to the Planning Board were Allan Simpson, John Diller, Grace Erdman, David Fechter, Will Miller and Wanda Rusinowsdki. The commission approved an ordinance that will place a referendum before the voters regarding the residency of elected officials.
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