MERTF Member: Our Primary Role is To Be Critical

That’s what Marine Environmental Resources Task Force member Robert Howell said Wednesday during the committee’s first meeting with its two brand new members. Howell was quickly corrected by Environmental Projects Manager Chadd Chustz.

The MERTF Committee has become famous for going over its skis and taking on issues that have nothing to do with their stated mission, or nothing to do with issues the Town Council has assigned them.

MERTF has less of a bite today because of the current Town Council makeup and with Dave Nusbaum and William Althoff recently appointed. There were 8 people interested in the 3 open positions on the MERTF, an unheard of number of candidates for an advisory committee. However, the interest was so high because residents on the south end of the island felt their voice wasn’t being heard, and, in some cases, they were being attacked by the committee. Many of you will recall the now infamous “poison” accusation.

In addition, the Chairman and now former Vice Chair have used their committee reports to town council to criticize the council for decisions they make, and, in one case, get into a heated public argument with a sitting council member. Most recently Chairman Steve Johnson said this council has created a culture of “cancel culture” because they chose Nusbaum and Althoff over two sitting committee members.

When Howell blurted out that the primary goal of the committee was to be critical, Chustz went right to the ordinance that created the committee and read it out loud: “The broad objectives of MERTF are to further the welfare of the business owners, residents, and visitors citizens of the town by helping to promote a better, more healthful, safe, and attractive community environment and to ensure that the unique and natural characteristics of our marine and environmental resources are preserved; or any other topics as assigned by the town council.” As you can see Howell’s assessment of what the committee should be doing was wrong.

It was clear town staff wanted to clarify the role of MERTF on Wednesday. Town Attorney Becky Vose attended and told the committee that they need to pay close attention to Senate Bill 250. The Bill is a serious warning to local governments from the state legislature. State lawmakers do not want local governments or government committees making life more difficult for property owners, as they rebuild from Hurricane Ian, by creating new rules. The Bill says for at least the next year no law or regulation can be imposed on property owners to make anything more restrictive or burdensome. Nothing can even be proposed and the Bill could be extended.

Howell, who does not live, work or own property on Fort Myers Beach, then went on to say that environmental laws on the beach like raking and lighting are not being enforced enough by the town. Althoff followed that up with, “People don’t react well to fines and enforcement. Let’s push education.”

For the record, the new culture of Town Manager Andy Hyatt and Operations Manager Frankie Kropacek has been education over enforcement. They have made it clear they want a kinder and gentler Fort Myers Beach Government compared to the way it was before they were hired.

New MERTF member Dave Nusbaum will be a guest on Beach Talk Radio this Saturday at 11:30