Garyh Katica News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

BELLEAIR — Gary H. Katica, the longest-serving mayor in Belleair history, died Sunday, March 7, 2021, surrounded by loved ones at his home. Katica was elected to the Belleair Town Commission in 2000 and elected mayor in 2007, a position he retained until his passing. He announced he had Parkinson’s disease in January 2020. He attended some commission meetings remotely via Zoom after the outbreak of COVID-19 limited in-person participation, but had not participated remotely since October. “I will miss him dearly,” Town Manager JP Murphy told Tampa Bay Newspapers. “My w...

BELLEAIR — The Town Commission may install a temporary replacement for Mayor Gary H. Katica — who has been absent for treatment of Parkinson’s disease since October — to ensure there are enough votes to close down the city’s water department in January. With Katica out of reach, only four commissioners are now available for that vote. The city charter requires a supermajority vote when creating or disbanding a city department. Deputy Mayor Karla Rettstatt brought up the predicament Dec. 1 as the commission discussed whether to switch to Pinellas County’s water su...