Thursday, October 29, 2009

Craig Cates slid quietly into the Key West mayor's chair.

Early on, it appeared it would almost be without fanfare. Cates changed that impression in a hurry when he announced he was letting expire Paul Clayton's contract as the city's affordable housing coordinator.

Cates exercised the option exactly as it should have been done. First, he called Clayton to his office to explain why he was letting the contract expire. Then he announced his own reasons for his actions.

Cates indicated during the mayoralty campaign that he would make changes in the way the city operates; to bring it more in line with the way businesses are run. He has kept to his word.

There will no doubt be more changes.

The affordable housing coordinator has been a controversial job since Clayton took the position in February 2007. A year ago, at former Mayor Morgan McPherson's urging, the measure to retain Clayton passed, 4 votes to 3. Clayton was paid $40,000 a year.

In June, there is another contract renewal coming up: That with Capital Alliance Group, a Tallahassee lobbying firm that specializes in affordable housing issues. Capital Alliance Group gets $55,000 from the city. Both are minimal savings, perhaps, but they'll add up.

More savings may lurk in the proposal for a new City Hall, estimated to cost $18 million. The new mayor says he plans to begin investigating the need for a new edifice on Angela Street.

Mayor Cates seems to have an agenda for saving money and reducing expenses -- quite the opposite of spend, spend, spend, and particularly welcome in tough economic times.

While voters were asked to extend the mayor's term from two to four years, beginning in 2012, Cates is providing proof he needed very little on-the-job training. Advocates of the four-year term offered that it takes a year for a newly elected mayor to learn the job.

Cates is indicating he's ready to fulfill his duties and responsibilities now -- not down the road. He has hit the ground running.

So, too, it seems, has new Commissioner Billy Wardlow, who is trying to keep his campaign promise of removing the parking meters at Smathers Beach. That may not be a cash savings, although Wardlow is trying to crunch numbers to find the ultimate figure. But, if it is possible without a significant loss of revenue, it would make the island a friendlier place for visitors, as well as residents.

With old hand Jimmy Weekley calling for a workshop so that commissioners can discuss ongoing topics in the open, the commission is taking on a new glow.

We salute new and old and hope we see more of the same in the future.

-- The Citizen