MARK SCHUMANN

With its approval of a new ordinance governing appointments to the Utilities Commission, the City Council last week took the final legislative step in reconstituting the commission charged with giving input and advice on the management of three major enterprise funds: the electric utility, the water & sewer utility and the solid waste department.

The revised ordinance, first proposed by Vice Mayor Jay Kramer, gives each council member one appointment on the seven-member commission. One of the two remaining positions will continue to be filled by a representative of the Town of Indian River Shores.  Appointments to the seventh commission seat, and to two alternate positions, will be decided by majority vote of the City Council.

As of Friday, each member of the Council had submitted to the City Clerk’s office their appointments to the reorganized Utilities Commission.  Scott Stradley was re-appointed by Pilar Turner. Mayor Richard Winger named current alternate member Jane Burton, and current alternate member Rock Tonkel was appointed by Craig Fletcher.  Vice Mayor Jay Kramer named John Schupe.  William Grealis will continue to represent the Town of Indian River Shores.

Councilwoman Amelia Graves, who replaced Tracy Carroll last November, appointed former Utilities Commission Chairman Herbert Whittall.  Whittall returns to the Commission after having been given his pink slip in January 2012, when Turner, Fletcher and Carroll purged the commission of members who were not fully supportive of the Council’s approach to selling the electric system.

The Council must still select the Commission’s seventh member and two alternates. Current Commission members Daniel Fourmont, James (Toby) Hill and Chuck Mechling were not reappointed.