Commissioner Burt Aaronson, District 5Do you remember reading a few months ago about Burt Aaronson being really miffed at Kelly Skidmore for circulating the rumor that he might retire sooner than 2012 leaving the door open for her to run?
Sometimes where there is smoke there is fire. It is not hard to imagine that Mr. Aaronson might retire sooner than his term allows. He already did that very thing once--“retired” for 30 days thus getting a lump sum retirement paying $1,740 a month plus his regular salary as PB County Commissioner. Apparently this was legal because it was only on “paper.” It seems to me that if you retire, you no longer are in your job, or so I thought.
I always remember Burt at the PB County Commission talking down to all of us who were there regarding our beach, the $5 million and the scam artist. Actually the nicer commissioners that day were Tony Masilotti and Karen Marcus. We went there to caution the County and to appeal to their better sense to investigate and thoroughly understand what was involved in this deal regarding the $5 million that was promised to us and money that we have been paying on since the bond was passed. We did not want our money turned over and immediately committed by our City to an outside company for even one second, a company that had not been checked out to any degree by our own city staff. Brendan Lynch, Vice Chair now of the CRA, was there apologizing for all of us. It truly was an incredible scene that day and we all got an eyeful of reality--government only wants to spend and has little interest as long as you give them a plan. They have their very own "CRA Santa Cookie Jar."
Well, you know what happened to Greater Bay in spite of Aaronson and in spite of Lynch.
Now the Florida Legislature has put an end to this double dipping—well sort of. Now, you have to wait six months after you retire and take your payout to be re-hired. The State should have ended the practice of double-dipping altogether.
Mr. Aaronson, you can retire for real this time but for sure in 2012.
