News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 7

Coral ape News-Press Reports From Staff Writers, Bureaus And Wire Services SECTION FRIDAY, AUGUST 4. 1978 Expansion eyed for Cape Coral City Hall up until early next year. That may not be soon enough for several councilmen, who vowed Thursday to make City Hall expansion a major issue of the upcoming budget workshops. "I'd like to see money set aside as soon as possible," said Councilman Arnold Weis-berg. "We've got a serious problem here.

We're just running out of space." Weisberg argues that Cape Coral, as a growing city, needs space in City Hall for more city employees. He said the design of the building makes for "lots of hall space" but tight quarters for the Cape's By GLEN MACNOW Cape Coral Bureau Chief With city employees complaining about crowded conditions, Cape Coral city councilmen are gearing up for debate on expanding City Hall. City Manager Robert Proctor said Thursday he is working on plans to include funds in the city's new capital improvements budget for a long-term expansion of the three-year-old building. Proctor said he may have preliminary recommendations ready for this month's city budget hearings but doesn't expect to have a full plan drawn His comments are echoed by some city department heads, including Public Services Director Joseph Centrone, who said Thursday the building is "pushing the limits of space." "I could use two-and-one-half times the space I have," agreed Building Director Herb Werner. "We've just grown so darn fast this building can't keep up with everything." Proctor said he may recommend initiation of a five-year expansion plan for the building.

He declined to estimate renovation costs but predicted much of the cost could come from the city's surplus. tax rate. He said reorganization of already existing space could provide an answer to cramped quarters. "I've never heard of anyone being satisfied with the space they have," Moore said. "My background in management tells me you can always figure out a better way to use what you've got." Any expansion of the Cape City Hall would have to be horizontal because the one-story building has an inflexible roof which prevents adding new stories.

Werner said the final solution might be a new two-story complex on city hall grounds. Councilman Murray Zwerdling said he has heard the complaints of city department heads and feels the building must be expanded before inflation makes costs prohibitive. "But I just can't see pushing it unless we know we're gonna have the money," he said. "It's just not a top priority." Less enthusiastic about expansion is Mayor Lyman Moore, who said he does not "spend enough time at City Hall to know if they need more room." Moore, who was accused by Weisberg of "not listening" to space complaints, said his top priority is to keep a cap on the city's Cape City Council candidates qualify if A' Zwerdling, first elected in 1976, said he plans to make his election issues water management and controlled growth of the city. Also filing was Donald Disbrow, 44, manager of the Firestone Store on Cape Coral Parkway.

Disbrow, who has live In Cape Coral for less than two years, said he would emphasize a campaign platform of "city officials senting the people, rather than imposing the will of a few on the people." He declined to expand on the statement and would name no incumbent councilmen who he feels are trying to impose their will on Cape residents. Disbrow, who lives at 2235 SE 27th Terrace, is seeking the Dist. 7 seat currently held by Artie Kelchner. Mrs. Kelchner, appointed to her seat in 1977, has announced plans to run for a full term but has not said when she plans to file.

The seat covers the northeast part of Cape Coral. The other incumbent councilman up for re-election this fall, Dist. 2 Councilman Mike Evegens, is listed in serious condition at Cape Coral Hospital following recent surgery. Political aspirants hoping to run for one of the four council seats have until Aug. 17 to qualify.

The council races are non-partisan. By GLEN MACNOW Cape Coral Bureau Chief Cape Coral's two-week qualifying period for political hopefuls started Thursday with a two-term city councilman announcing he won't seek re-election. Dist. 3 Councilman Ed Coleman, who also serves as mayor pro-tem, said he plans to leave the council "to give me a chance to finally relax and do some traveling." Coleman was elected to the council in 1974 and re-elected without opposition in 1976. He had ened to not seek re-election in 1976, citing council bickering, but finally decided to run.

"This time is different," he said Thursday. "The growth of Cape Coral is making this job more and more time consuming, and I think it's about time my wife and I got a chance to take it easy." No other candidate has announced plans to run for Coleman's seat, which covers the south-central part of the city. Thursday's first chance for qualifying brought only two candidates to City Hall to fill out the necessary forms and pay a $25 qualification fee. Councilman Murray Zwerdling, who holds the Dist. 5 seat covering north-central Cape Coral, filed for re-election.

He has drawn no announced opposition. Sanibel cleared in probe By SUSAN DeFORD News-Press Staff Writer An investigation into allegations of misconduct at Sanibel City Hall has turned up no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, State Attorney Joseph D'Alessandro announced Thursday. D'Alessandro said his office has closed the book on an investigation into Sanibel city government that was prompted by allegations of possible irregularities in city inspection and permitting of three construction projects. As he had during the course of the investigation by his office and the Lee County Sheriff's Department, D'Alessandro refused to reveal the identities of the two persons he said originally brought the allegations to his attention. However, several members of the Sanibel City Council said that the city's former assistant city manager, Steve Maxwell, had made allegations that they had improperly filed their financial disclosure statements.

Maxwell, who was fired from his post May 19 by City Manager William Nungester for "attitudinal differences," would not comment Thursday on whether he made the allegations of misconduct to D'Alessandro. D'Alessandro said Thursday that his office had received "several allegations that certain persons in city government didn't file financial disclosure," but he said he found "nothing improper." The state attorney added that there was a question whether the city's former chief building inspector, John Goode, should have filed a financial disclosure statement this year. Goode has said he was willing to file but advised not to because his position was termed temporary. During the course of the investigation, which began in late June, D'Alessandro said sheriff's investigators reviewed "hundreds of documents" from the city building department and took 10 sworn statements concerning three construction projects on the island. D'Alessandro said Thursday his office found "no violation of criminal wrongdoing as related to those three projects." 4 1 Island Chamber head wants officer expelled r-- News-PressMike Sierra Letter from friends friends in dappled sunshine on a park bench under a Harry Manley of Fort Myers enjoys a letter from tree at Lions Park.

Area's campaign contributions listed Lou Chamberlain, temporary chairman of the merchants' group, responded that the his group is willing to complement the chamber. "The chamber has not been mentioned at our meetings," Chamberlain said. "We're not fighting the chamber." Chamberlain, owner of Lou's Italian Kitchen in Pine Island Center, said Fort Myers has a chamber and a' merchant's association that work harmoniously. In a related matter, Chamberlain's nomination to the chamber's board of directors was rejected by the board by a vote of 11 to 7. Three no votes are enough to keep a member off the board, according to the group's rules.

After his attempt join the board failed, Chamberlain said the decision was another example that the chamber had a "lack of concern for the business community." RandelPs move to expel Pitt, owner of Pine Island Radio and Marine, began last week when he said he asked Pitt privately to resign. Pitt declined, and Randell told him the matter would be brought before the board. In the initial portion of his speech about Pitt, Randell told of how the vice president had changed the seating arrangement at the chamber's annual dinner. Without informing the president, Randell said, Pitt sat at a table he wasn't assigned to and caused confusion at the banquet. This seemin-ly minor insubordination was the beginning of problems between the president and Pitt, Randell said.

"After the dinner, I have assigned him no further duties," Randell said. In other discussion, two insurance agents spoke about policies for mobile homes and the chamber received five new members. By KEN KLEIN Cope Coral Bureau The president of the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce recommended Thursday that Vice President Ray Pitt be expelled because he had "embarrassed" the chamber. President Don Randell, speaking at the group's regular monthly meeting, addressed his request for Pitt's removal to the board of directors, who will vote on the recommendation in September. "I know he's (Pitt) been hurting the chamber by casting comments that the chamber has been poorly run and has not operated for the overall good of the business community," Randell said.

Pitt and his attorney, Stephen J. Taminosian of Fort Myers, were part of the standing room only crowd at the chamber building listening to Randell. "He has done nothing but work to embarrass the chamber and to embarrass me," Randell said near the end of the three-hour meeting. Neither Pitt nor his lawyer spoke in rebuttal, which apparently will come at the group's September meeting. However, Pitt has said previously he has worked diligently for the chamber.

In June, Pitt and several other businessmen on the island formed a merchants' association independent of the chamber. Although the driving force behind the association was said to be dissatisfaction with the chamber, Pitt has not publicly attacked the chamber. Prior to Thursday's meeting, Randell said he "welcomes" the merchants' group and vowed that the chamber would cooperate with it. But as part of his statement about Pitt, Randell said Thursday the "new group has been hatmful to our (the chamber's) posture." by Frev of trying to buy the election. To counteract such criticism, Eckerd has made a concerted effort to raise large numbers of small contributions, ond he has succeeded in Southwest Florida.

He has received approximately .900 contributions ranging from $1 to $75 most are for $5 or $10 In the four-countv area. Eckerd, however, also has received many $100-plus contributions in Southwest Florida, the largest being $1,000 from W.C. Swanson, president of South Florida Cable Television Corp. in Naples. Swanson also contributed $99 to Eckerd also received $700 from Altha Carey, corporate secretary of Carey Concrete Costings Inc.

of Punta Gorda, and $100 from another member of the family company, S.G. Carey, plus $634 from Porter Goss of Sanibel, who was identified as a self-employed businessman and who Is a Sanibel city councilman. Others donating more than $100 to Eckerd since Jan. 1, ore: $350: Naples retiree Charles Shumway. $300: Naples investor Philip Francoeur.

210: The Lehigh Corp. (developer of Lehigh Acres) and one of Its officials, Harry Powell Jr. $200: James owner of Fort Myers Memorial Gardens, and Naples retirees George Govnor and Paul Wardenberg. $117: Naples lawyer Elwood Safron. Those contributing $100, listed according to hometown, are: Fort Myers: Housewife Maude Fields and retiree M.F.

Siegerstetter. Cape Coral: Retiree T.E. Jera-bek. Naples: Southwest Electric Supply, Half Circle Ranch, housewife Ann Ballard, retirees. Carlyle Evans, Robert Charles Reach and Harlow Stahl.

Punta Gorda: Retirees C. Wood ond Maureen-Cole. Bonita Springs: Retiree Virginia Caldwell. Port Charlotte: Retiree Alice Roust. Turn To CAMPAIGN, Page 2B Attorney General Robert Shevin of Miami, $10,414, but only $1,983 of that amount since Jan.

1. State Sen. Robert Graham of Miami Lakes, $6,123. Lt. Gov.

Jim Williams of Ocala, $5,544. Jacksonville Mayor Hans $75. Most of the major Southwest Florida contributions to the two Republicans have come from Naples. Frev's maior benefactors since fhe first of the year hove been a Naples couple, John and Marilyn Murphy. He is president of Murphy Oil Co.

In Columbus, Ohio, and she listed her occupation as a housewife. Each contributed .12,500. The legal limit is $3,000. Other Southwest Floridions who hove contributed more than $100 to Frey since Jan. 1 ore: $1,000: Park Shore Land Development, and Construction Corp.

of Naples. $500: Ad Miller Associates (real estate) of Naples and Peter Kleist, owner of Klelst Enterprises of Fort Myers. $400: Noples retiree Herman Teetor. $250: Naples accountant T. Wher-rett Miller.

$200: Janet Fisher, owner of Jet Inc. of Naples. $196: Oliver Grootemaat (no occupation listed) of Naples. $150: Finger Construction Co. of Fort Myers.

Contributors of $100, listed according to hometown, are: Fort Myers: Realtor Dan Royal Jr. ond retiree Jackson Burgess. Marco Island: retiree McLester Snow. Naples: radio and television center manager William J. Ryan, First National Bank Executive Vice President John R.

Larson, Realtor David Jones Ribek Corp. President Robert Beckler, retiree Ann Harrington and rancher Carl Everly. Eckerd, who has poured $874,135 Into his campaign out of his own pocket so far, has been accused By BILL KACZOR Gannett News Service TALLAHASSEE Republican Congressman Lou Frey still is leading all gubernatorial candidates in Southwest Florida fund-raising, but his GOP primary opponent Jack Eckerd is catching up fast. The conservative bent of contributors in the four-county area Lee, Charlotte, Collier and Hendry also can be seen on the Democratic side in campaign contribution reports filed with the state Division of Elections. Conservative former Secretary of State Bruce Smathers of Jacksonville is the top Democratic fund-raiser in the area, followed closely by Palm Beach Republican-turned-Independent-turned-Democrat Claude Kirk, a former governor.

Frey, of Winter Park, has raised $22,495 in the four counties, and Clearwater drugstore magnate Eckerd has raised $17,224, all except $200 of it since Jan. 1, compared to only $13,818 since then by Frey. Here's how the Democrats stack up (one candidate, James LeRoy Eden, of Miami Beach, has raised no money in the area) Smathers, $14,405, all of it since Jan. 1. Kirk, $13,895, all since Jan.

1, and all while he was still an Independent. practices and operations at a Marianna facility for the mentally retarded 10B has been campaigning the last 20 days, reaches the end of the trail 5B Inside Today's ceiling with thousands of Christmas gifts ready for his annual Santa trek 11B A SMALL-TIME mobster who icily tells a Senate hearing about the world of murder and drugs, weeps as he relates how an insensitive remark about his wife who died in childbirth helped him decide to kill his business partner 12B B-Section TROPICAL STORM activity in the Atlantic poses a slim possibility of a delay in a planned Monday launch of a multi-probe spacecraft to Venus 9B HEALTH AND Rehabilitative Services Secretary William Page reacting to the furor caused over the case of Mary Worlds, orders a review of abuse-reporting Circuit Judge John A. Rudd refuses to allow Theodore Robert Bundy to be represented by the lawyer of his choice, saying Atlanta attorney Millard Farmer's courtroom tactics are disruptive and disrespectful of the law 12B THE "SUNSHINE EXPRESS," a flatbed truck from which Robert Shevin's running mate Jim Glisson TONY GRUTTADAURIA was a balding man with snow-white hair around the edges, about five feet tall and soft grey eyes that twinkled when he smiled. When he died, he left his apartment stacked to the FORMAL CHARGES of false imprisonment, armed burglary, armed robbery and vehicle theft are filed against two Georgia prison escapees being held without bond in the county jail at Jasper 8B.