Final VAB Meeting 04/17/2023 TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD
Naples, Florida April 17, 2023
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Value Adjustment Board,
in and for the County of Collier, met on this date at 9:00 a.m., in
REGULAR SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex,
East Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
Chairman: Burt Saunders, BCC Member
Dan Kowal, BCC Member
Rebecca Earney, Homestead Citizen Member
Erick Carter, School Board Member
Jill Rosenfeld, Homestead Citizen Member
Ron Kezeske, Business Citizen Member
COUNSEL TO THE BOARD
Holly E. Cosby, Esq.
THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE
Annabel Ybaceta, Director Homestead/Exemptions
Jennifer Blaje, Director Tax Roll Compliance/Data Mgmt.
THE CLERK'S OFFICE
Crystal K. Kinzel, Clerk of the Circuit Court
Derek Johnssen, Clerk's Finance Director
Marty Rustin, BMR Manager
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CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. The Collier County
Value Adjustment Board meeting of April 17 will please come to
order.
Why don't we start off with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Ms. Cosby, if you'll call the roll.
MS. COSBY: Absolutely. I'll just ask everybody to please
just state your name for the record, and I'll start with Ms. Rosenfeld.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER ROSENFELD: Jill Rosenfeld,
alternate homestead citizen member.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Rebecca Earney,
homestead citizen member.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Burt Saunders, Collier County
Commission.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Dan Kowal, Collier County
Commissioner Member.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: Ron Kezeske, business
citizen member.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: Erick Carter, Collier
County School Board member.
MS. COSBY: And I'm Holly Cosby, Value Adjustment Board
attorney. I'm joined here with Derek Johnssen, who is -- your
position?
MR. JOHNSSEN: Derek Johnssen, Clerk's VAB admin.
MS. COSBY: And I will just ask everybody on the Board if
you'll check the contact information. If you are looking at a paper
copy, or if you're looking at the PDF on your computer, it would be
Page 7. If you'll check the contact information for yourselves and
just verify that that information is accurate.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Okay. So we do have a quorum
and --
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MS. COSBY: I was going to go there next.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: And we do need a motion to
approve the -- today's agenda.
MS. COSBY: I need to go back one second. While
everybody's checking their contact information, I did want to advise
for the record that I've reviewed the affidavit of publication for this
meeting. I find it's sufficient to proceed and then, yes, sir, pursuant
to Florida Statute 194.015, we do have a quorum here today.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: So let's have a motion to approve
today's agenda.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: I motion to approve.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER ROSENFELD: Second.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: We have a motion and a second.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER ROSENFELD: Aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: Aye.
SCHOOLBOARD MEMBER CARTER: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: That passes.
And Item 2B, approval/acceptance of the minutes from
September 12, 2022, and that was our organizational meeting.
MS. COSBY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Are there any questions or
comments concerning the minutes?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: I think we need a motion for
approval.
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HOMESTEAD MEMBER ROSENFELD: Motion to approve.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Motion.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Second.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: We have a motion and a second.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER ROSENFELD: Aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: Aye.
SCHOOLBOARD MEMBER CARTER: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: That passes unanimously.
Ms. Cosby, why don't you guide us through the rest of the
agenda here.
MS. COSBY: Absolutely.
So we're on Section 3A. 3A just provides the Board with any
legislative updates that have happened since the organizational
meeting, and 3A1(a), (b), and (c) all deal with damage to residential
improvements as a result of Hurricane Ian and tax rebates that -- or
refunds that are due to those people who have suffered those -- that
issue. And so there was a -- there are two PTO bulletins and then
a -- just a full Florida administrative register, including
the -- including the form for our citizens to fill out if they suffered
any such tragedy.
And then 3A1(d) is a coded draft for the agricultural guidelines,
and it's just a very large revamp of those guidelines. And I'm trying
to get to my computer right now. But if anybody has any questions
or concerns there -- it's nothing that affects the Board from an
operable standpoint. It's more what magistrates need to apply when
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they're hearing hearings or hearing petitions.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right.
MS. COSBY: Moving on to 3B, at the organizational meeting,
I provide a compliance checklist that ensures the Board that we are in
compliance with the laws and rules that govern Florida VABs. And
at the time of the organizational meeting, there were two items that
were not able to be completed at that time, and that was simply
because the Department of Revenue training had been released
recently, so it wasn't reasonable to have our magistrates complete that
training at the time of our organizational meeting, but we ensured that
they had completed the training prior to hearing hearings here in
Collier County. So that is attached as Exhibit 6 to the compliance
checklist in your agenda packet.
And then the other item that could not be completed at that time
was sending notices of hearings to all CEOs of municipalities, and
that was simply because hearings had not been scheduled yet. But I
will advise the Board that administration did provide notice to any
CEO or deputy of a municipality for any petition that was filed to be
heard in Collier County within their municipality. And that's
included as Exhibit 7 to your compliance checklist. So we are in full
compliance at this time.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. Are there any questions
from the Board on any of the items that were just discussed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. If not, then we'll move
on to Item 4, public comment.
MS. COSBY: No, I did not get to Item C.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
MS. COSBY: Item 3C, 3C1, there is a petitioner here in Collier
County who filed two petitions, and he lodged some concerns with
the Value Adjustment Board administration. That would be 3C1.
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And I have just included that information to the Board because, if we
receive correspondence like that, I must advise you.
The documentation with regards to Petition 2022-561 has much
more volume than 2022-562. I think 562 was actually heard first,
and then 561 was heard after. And the petitioner just lodged several
issues that he was just dissatisfied with the process. I believe he's
here today to speak. So you will be able to hear more from him.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Where do those complaints go?
MS. COSBY: They come to VAB admin -- well, at this
juncture they've also gone to the Department of Revenue, and that's
3C2. I'll explain in a minute. But they come to VAB
administration, and then VAB administration has the responsibility of
bringing those issues to me, and then I address them locally here, and
then, of course, I have to advise the VAB when we receive such
things, such correspondence. And I addressed everything, and the
VAB administration definitely took a lot of time responding to his
concerns.
And then 3C2 has to do with the correspondence that the
Department of Revenue then received from the same petitioner. And
there were four rounds, and the Board has copies of all four rounds.
Round 4 was received by my office at 4:04 p.m. on Friday, and in
efforts to not leave any stone unturned prior to being here today, I
made sure to address that before going home on Friday. So that's
why you have a paper copy of some documents is because we could
not get that to you electronically and fairly in a timely manner. The
VAB administration had gone home by the time I was finishing up.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. Is there any action that
this board needs to take at this time?
MS. COSBY: Not with regard to this other than hearing his
comments during public comment. I don't find there to be any
issues.
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CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Okay. I understand that the
public comment is going to be in reference to these items?
MS. COSBY: I would -- I would -- I believe so. I would
guess so.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. Are there any questions
concerning Items 1 and 2 under Subpart C before we go to public
comment?
(No response.)
MS. COSBY: And I will advise for the Board that I did
respond to all four Department of Revenue inquiries, and I have not
received anything back from the Department of Revenue that advises
me that anything that I've provided is unacceptable or needs
additional attention at this time.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. If there's no other
comments in reference to that, let's go to public comment. I
understand we have one registered speaker.
MS. COSBY: At this time, the Board has opened public
comment if anybody is attending today that would like to speak. I'll
go ahead and read my public comment speech.
Value Adjustment Board policy provides the opportunity at this
point in the meeting to address the Board concerning any matter on
this agenda or concerning the Collier County Value Adjustment
Board process. The Board will not consider subject matter of any
public comment which is provided with the intention of appealing
any portion of any special magistrate recommendation or Value
Adjustment Board final decision. As pursuant to Florida Statute
Section 194.036, the appropriate relief at this time would be through
the Circuit Court.
The maximum time allotted per speaker is three minutes.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. With that instruction,
you're welcome to come to the podium. If you'd state your name and
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address for the record, please. Either way; either side.
MR. VARIE: Can I give this to the Chairman? Because I'm
not sure what you guys got.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Okay.
MR. VARIE: I gave it to her, but I'm not sure what you guys
got before. I don't want anything hidden. You know, that's the
email from Steve Keller. And I don't know what was forwarded.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. If you'd state your
name and address for the record, and then you have three minutes.
MR. VARIE: My name is Nick Varie, 482 Pepperwood Court.
I'm here today because I had a petition, and the Special
Magistrate denied my due process, and I wasn't treated uniformly.
The Special Magistrate, one, allowed the Property Appraiser to
run the hearing, and they didn't allow me to submit rebuttal evidence
in my hearing. I had a written packet. They absolutely wouldn't
look at it. He denied it. And that was my first complaint.
My second complaint was there's a package that's 81 pages that's
given to every petitioner that -- in the county that the Property
Appraiser uses as evidence. In that evidence, it's riddled with errors.
It's abundant with errors. One of the errors is that they used outdated
letters from the current Steve Keller, who's the letter -- the email that
I presented to you right there. And he points out that they're
outdated, and he, in the letter, tells the Value Adjustment Board
through the Value Adjustment Board attorney what you guys need to
consider and what you should do and how he advised them.
The point is that there isn't uniformity. Uniformity is
paramount in VAB hearings. And Steve Keller's, if you read his
letter -- and I encourage you to read it and look through all the
documents before you certify this, because this is a very serious
matter. And I'm not here to -- I'm not here just for myself. I'm here
for everyone that had a petition. And he clearly has an opinion, and
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those were the letters that he had originally.
You may -- you probably know that just because you guys are
VAB members, that he says that you have to use professionally
accepted appraisal practices even if the Property Appraiser doesn't.
One of the things that I found really odd was that 81 pages that
I'm not sure if you guys ever went to a hearing or not, but everyone
got this 81 pages sent to them as part of the -- not the sales
comparison, but all these other things trying to explain different ways
that they use in this county. And the magistrate -- the Special
Magistrate relied hopefully on that document.
And I have a transcript of the entire hearing, which I provided to
Ms. Cosby, and excerpts of it to the state, because it shows that -- you
can quote him saying, when I brought up the cost of sale, basically,
that I'm not going to -- I'm not going to talk to you about that. Look
at the 81 pages.
And I have -- I've sent the transcripts to Ms. Cosby. She should
forward them to you if there's any question. And the whole -- the
whole meeting was recorded so there's no -- all you have to do is
listen to the recording. And I'd be happy to -- the -- anyway, the
amounts are on -- the times of what he said are on that -- on
the -- you know, on the transcript and the recording. You could go
right to the -- if you don't believe the transcript, all you have to do is
go to the hearing and listen forward to minute 112, and you can listen
to what he says about it.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right.
MR. VARIE: And he had a -- he had a premeditated idea and
judgment of those 81 pages before he went to my hearing and
probably many others.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. Thank you.
MR. VARIE: I appreciate it.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Ms. Cosby, any advice for us in
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reference to this, or what is our jurisdiction? What do we do at this
point with that information, or do we just move on to the next item?
MS. COSBY: You can just move on to the next item if you
please. If the Board has any questions, I'm certainly happy to
entertain those. I do want to make sure you are advised that most of
what Mr. Varie -- and I apologize, I pronounced your name wrong.
It's not Varie. It's Varie, right?
MR. VARIE: Yeah.
MS. COSBY: Okay. What Mr. Varie -- the majority of what
Mr. Varie just presented to the Board was substantive to his petition.
And so continuing that discussion should also permit the Property
Appraiser to also bring in substance and discuss that with the Board,
and that sort of erodes the special magistrate process and the special
magistrate hearing process because this has already been heard.
But if the Board has any questions on anything that Mr. Varie
has provided to you this morning, I'm certainly happy to answer those
questions.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. We'll see if there are --
MS. COSBY: If you have any concerns.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: -- any questions or comments
from the Board. I don't see any.
So, then, your advice is we just move on to the next item?
That's --
MS. COSBY: Unless we have anybody else that wishes to
speak during public comment.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. We'll move on.
MR. VARIE: I'll speak again. If you have any questions, you
can ask me. I'll answer them.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: We you understand that.
All right. Ms. Cosby, if we'll go on -- we'll move on to the Item
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No. 5.
MS. COSBY: Okay. Item No. 5 would include VAB
members and staff comments. So at this time, does the Value
Adjustment Board -- do the Value Adjustment Board members have
anything they would like to discuss or comment on today?
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: I don't see any.
MS. COSBY: Okay. Then I will turn to VAB staff and find
if-- we have our Madam Clerk -- our esteemed Madam Clerk here
today, and we also have our lead VAB clerk. We also have
Mr. Johnssen.
Does anybody from VAB administration have anything they
want to add?
(No response.)
MS. COSBY: At this time we have nothing from VAB staff. I
have nothing.
So we can move on to Item 6.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. 6A.
MS. COSBY: Okay. 6A and 6B are informational, and then
to proceed with 6B1 and 6B2. So Board Member Kezeske, Mr.
Kezeske, had a petition with the Value Adjustment Board this year.
And he has not been, you know, vague about it or hidden. He's been
very open and candid about it.
And so what we need to do is when we -- when the Board moves
to approve or discuss or deny petitions, that specific petition, which is
VAB Petition 2020-00309, that one is pulled separately, and
Mr. Kezeske will recuse himself from that vote to keep that fair.
And we'll still have quorum for that vote. So we need to just
separate those out between the Petition 309 and the rest. So that is
explaining A and B.
And then we can go to 6B 1, and we would look for a motion to
approve the recommended decision for Petition No. 2020-00309 by
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itself with Mr. Kezeske abstaining from voting.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. Any questions or
comments from the Board? If-- seeing none, then we need a motion
to approve that.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER ROSENFELD: Motion to approve.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: We have a motion, and I'll second
that. All in favor, signify by saying aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER ROSENFELD: Aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: (Abstains.)
SCHOOLBOARD MEMBER CARTER: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: That passes unanimously.
We'll move on to No. 2.
MS. COSBY: And that would -- we would need to entertain a
motion for approval of the remainder of all recommended decisions
for the VAB 2022 session.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: I make a motion.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: We have a motion.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: Second.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: And we have a second. All in
favor, signify by saying aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER ROSENFELD: Aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: Aye.
SCHOOLBOARD MEMBER CARTER: Aye.
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CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: That passes unanimously.
Item 7.
MS. COSBY: Okay. Item 7 would be our -- this is the
certification of the Value Adjustment Board. This is the final
certification for tangible personal property. And what this document
shows -- and I will get to the page number in just one minute. This
would be -- okay. This would be indicating the change in value for
any properties that were filed or any parcels that were filed for
tangible personal property. And in Collier County, there has been no
shift in value for the 2022 session. But we do need to approve these
forms.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: Motion to approve.
All right. We have a motion. Is there a second?
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: We have a motion and a second.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER ROSENFELD: Aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: Aye.
SCHOOLBOARD MEMBER CARTER: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: That passes unanimously.
MS. COSBY: And then Item 8 would be the same form for real
property. And that one we do have a shift in value, and the shift in
value is $1,934,051 total for the VAB -- 2022 VAB session.
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CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. We need a motion.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: Motion to approve.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: Second.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: We have motion and a second.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER ROSENFELD: Aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: Aye.
SCHOOLBOARD MEMBER CARTER: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: That passes unanimously.
Moving on to No. 9.
MS. COSBY: Yes, sir. Item 9 is a notice of tax impact to this
document will be filed -- will be published in the paper once we are
finished with today's meeting. And what this document shows -- and
if you're on the -- if you're in the computer, it's on Page 685.
And what this document does is it lists all five board members.
Unfortunately, it doesn't also list Ms. Rosenfeld because she's an
alternate. But we are grateful for your presence here today, all of
you.
But this is our five board members, and it gives a synopsis of an
overall view of the VAB session as far as how many petitions were
filed, how many were withdrawn or settled, how many were
requested, how many were reduced. It does show that shift in value,
that $1,934,051, and then it shows what the shift in taxes is for the
year, and that shift in taxes is $20,470.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Okay. Any questions?
(No response.)
Page 14
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Seeing none, we need a motion.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: Motion.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Motion.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Okay. We have a motion.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Second.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: And a second. All in favor,
signify by saying aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER ROSENFELD: Aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: Aye.
SCHOOLBOARD MEMBER CARTER: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: That passes unanimously.
Item No. 10.
MS. COSBY: Okay. Item No. 10 is to advise this board that
this year we had more than double the number of petitions that we
had from the previous year. So in 2021 we had 607 petitions filed.
2022 we had 1,216 petitions filed.
We had a very tight hearing schedule, and we had a lot of value
matters that were heard by our magistrates. I am -- we've heard
through the grapevine that next year's probably going to be the same
as this year, if not heavier.
And so at this time we believe that we are going to need
additional magistrate support. What that means is that Value
Adjustment Board administration and I will work together behind the
scenes before the organizational meeting to try to procure one or two
additional magistrates to have on the roster to hear hearings for the
2023 VAB session.
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There is zero fiscal impact on the VAB, the county, or the
school board or the BOCC for simple appointment. The only impact
would be -- fiscal impact would be if hearings are held, but there's no
fiscal impact to have additional opportunity for other special
magistrates to hear hearings, and it will probably continue promoting
the efficient operation of the VAB.
So at this time I wanted to advise the Board that this is
something that's upcoming. I would ask the Board permit myself
and administration to work together to secure one or two additional
qualified and competent members, appraisers, or attorneys,
depending on what we feel we need prior to the organizational
meeting that we will present the Board with during the 2023
organizational meeting.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All right. So that -- Item 10 we're
just giving you the authority to go find a couple more magistrates?
MS. COSBY: Yes, sir; yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: We need a motion for approval of
that.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: I motion to approve.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: Second.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: We have a motion and second.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER ROSENFELD: Aye.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: Aye.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: Aye.
SCHOOLBOARD MEMBER CARTER: Aye.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: All opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: That passes unanimously.
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MS. COSBY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Number 11, we're setting the date
for the 2023 organizational meeting?
MS. COSBY: Yes, sir. And, you know, if it will please the
Board, if you will please look at your calendars and let us know if
any of those dates work better for you than others.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: I will be gone all of those
dates, sorry.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: I think I will be as well.
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: I'm pretty sure myself.
MS. COSBY: You're good?
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: I'll be here.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: August 7th works best for me.
MS. COSBY: August 7th works best?
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: That seems to work
good for me, too.
MS. COSBY: Mr. Carter, that's good for you?
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: August 7th I will be back,
yes.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: We knew that.
That's why we picked August the 7th.
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: I may be disheveled, but I
will be back.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Let me see. I think I'm gone on
in August.
MS. COSBY: It's okay. I will advise, for the record, quorum
is the school board member, a citizen member, and a commissioner.
So quorum can be established with three. I would love to have all
six of you here, but I will take what we can get.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: So the school board member,
you're available on August 7th?
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SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: Yeah, August the
7th is good for me.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Ron, you're available?
BUSINESS MEMBER KEZESKE: The 7th I'll be back, yeah.
MS. COSBY: Ms. Earney's okay?
HOMESTEAD MEMBER EARNEY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: I think I may be. I may have
misspoken. I'm not 100 percent sure.
MS. COSBY: Now, is 9:00 a.m. good for the Board, or 1 :00
p.m.?
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: Good for me.
MS. COSBY: 9:00 a.m., okay. August 7th at 9:00 a.m. it is.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: And if for any
reason -- Stephanie Lucarelli is my alternate, so if for any reason I
can't make it, you know, she would be here, but I don't foresee any
issues.
MS. COSBY: Okay.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: You'll be gearing up for school
by then, right?
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: Yeah, I think so.
That's why we'll all be here.
COMMISSIONER KOWAL: That's why I'll be back.
MS. COSBY: You said your alternate is, I'm sorry?
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: I think Stephanie
Lucarelli is the alternate now for Value Adjustment Board.
MS. COSBY: Yeah. I'll make sure that administration notifies
both of you, Mr. Carter, you and Ms. Lucarelli.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CARTER: Yeah, I believe
Ms. Lucarelli's the alternate.
MS. COSBY: Okay. Okay.
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: Ms. Cosby, do you have anything
Page 18
else for the Board?
MS. COSBY: I do not. Does the Board have anything for me?
CHAIRMAN SAUNDERS: I don't think so.
Mr. Varie, just so you know, we have fairly limited authority;
that's why we're not discussing your item. That's something that you
may want to talk to some legal counsel about.
If there are no other conversations or questions from the Board,
then we are adjourned.
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 9:26 a.m.
VALUE ADJUSTMENT BO
CHAI AN
ATTEST:
CRYSTAL K.,KIEL, CLERK
41
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Attest a to C
sig atu = o' ' 6
These minutes accepted by the Board on Atri7 2023
as presented ✓ or as corrected
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF FORT MYERS
COURT REPORTING SERVICES, INC., BY TERRI L. LEWIS,
RPR, FPR, NOTARY PUBLIC/COURT REPORTER.
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