ANNA MARIA – Mason Martin Builders and Agnelli Pools & Construction owner Frank Agnelli and other Anna Maria builders are calling for the city to replace contracted Building Official Craig Greene and the Joe Payne Inc. firm he works for with a full-time building official employed directly by the city.
In January, the city commission authorized Mayor Mark Short to execute an agreement with Joe Payne Inc. (JPI) that completely outsourced the city’s building department and floodplain management responsibilities to Payne’s firm, as well as providing some additional construction-related city engineering services.
According to the current agreement that’s scheduled for renewal or expiration on Sept. 30, JPI receives 50% of the building permit application fees generated in Anna Maria each month, and JPI is guaranteed a monthly minimum of $35,000 if permit fees don’t reach that monthly threshold…