Haines selected to fill empty Town Council seat

Brandi Haines has been selected to fill the empty seat on the Windermere Town Council on an interim basis. 

Haines was nominated by Council Member Andy Williams at the council meeting Tuesday, Nov. 14. The motion was approved 3-1, with Council Member Tony Davit dissenting. Davit’s vote went to Mayor Jim O’Brien’s nomination of Gregg Anderson.

“Actually, I was going to nominate Brandi (also),” Council Member Tom Stroup said. “She’s here at meetings, she stepped right in, she knows all the stuff. Matter of fact, I call her for stuff sometimes. It would be an easy transition.”

Haines is excited to serve the people in the town and will temporarily fill the seat until the March 19, 2024, election. 

“I have been involved for many years learning about town issues and projects and communicating with other residents to keep them informed,” she said. “I have been encouraged by many people to run for council, so this is a great opportunity to fill the vacancy as an interim council woman. I am looking forward to the upcoming election in March.”

The seat has been empty since October’s Town Council meeting when former Council Member Molly Rose announced her resignation, effective immediately. 

Rose cited the new financial disclosure requirements signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this year as the reasoning for her resignation.

“This is a volunteer position, and (my husband) doesn’t want his information being public record,” she said at that meeting. “I appreciate that; I respect that.”

Rose began her first two-year term January 2022.

VISION ZERO POLICY 

The council approved the first reading of a resolution adopting a Vision Zero Policy. 

The resolution is to state the town supports and adopts the Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and severe injuries by 2050 and will seek to build a Vision Zero/Complete Streets Plan to begin to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and road users of all ages and abilities. 

Before being able to obtain implementation grant funding from the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, all municipalities must first draft a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. 

The town had previously started the process to receive grant funds for the Safety Action Plan.

However, Metro Plan Orlando gained grant funding and decided to provide a Safety Action Plan for each municipal entity within the Metro Plan Region as part of its commitment to the Vision Zero program. This act will provide the town with what is needed to then proceed forward with applying for implementation funds for roadway and safety enhancements to town roadways.