- April 29, 2024
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‘Mr. Beach’ dies at the age of 92
City Commissioner Troy Kent gave a heartfelt tribute to Andy Romano during the remarks section at the Feb. 3 commission meeting.
Romano, a former local teacher, principal and pioneering lifeguard in Ormond Beach, died the morning of the meeting at the age of 92.
“I’ll miss my friend,” Kent said.
Known as “Mr. Beach,” Romano started the Ormond Beach lifeguard corps in 1949, decades before the service was taken over by Volusia County. He is also known for Andy’s Rentals, which was the first concession on the beach, according to city records.
“I’m proud to say Andy’s Rentals is still in business today,” Kent said.
Andy Romano Beachfront Park was named in his honor.
Romano was a teacher at Corbin Elementary School, now Ormond Beach Elementary, and later served as principal at Ormond Beach Middle School.
Romano was an avid fisherman, and Kent recalled how they became friends after they went fishing together.
He said that Romano told him the soft sand on the beach was nothing new. He said in the old days they would bring a fire truck to the beach and pump water from the ocean to pack the sand down.
“He was a great man and a fantastic friend,” Kent said. “He had a wonderful life.”
Mayor Ed Kelley and Commissioner Bill Partington offered their condolences to the family. Kelley said he was grateful that the city was able to get Andy Romano Beachfront Park built and named in his lifetime, and noted Romano’s contribution to the city as a member of the Leisure Services Advisory Board.
City looks at Building Improvement Grants
In a workshop before the City Commission meeting, the commissioners gave staff direction for the Building Improvement Grant program as they draft a budget this year.
Currently, the city awards up to $50,000 to a private business, if they match the amount and if their plans are approved by OrmondMainstreet and city commissioners. Staff suggested changing the amount to $25,000. Also currently, the maximum number of grants given out during the year are six, and staff suggested reducing the number to four.
Staff suggested the changes so that a reserve could be built up for special project.
“You’re spending everything you take in,” said City Manager Joyce Shanahan. “We’re not positioned to help with a lot of money if needed for a ‘Trader Joes,’” she said.
The money for the grant program comes from taxes in the Community Redevelopment Area, which includes Granada Boulevard and about a block north and south. A baseline tax on businesses in the CRA was recorded in 1984, and taxes above the baseline go into the fund for the program.
The commissioners gave direction to leave the guidelines as they are now, although changes could be made in workshops this year when budget changes are made.
They agreed the program has been very beneficial in improving the downtown.
“The program has been held up as a model,” said Commissioner Partington. “I don’t see a reason to change it.”
The general consensus was that if a big project came along, the commission would consider funding it at that time.
Shanahan said staff just wanted to “ring the bell,” and let the commissioners know the program no longer has a reserve.
In an interview before the meeting, Julia Truilo, executive director of OrmondMainstreet, said the program has been “tremendously” important.
“It’s a combination of things,” she said. “The street has a vibrancy and a cleanliness.”
She said it’s easy to forget how bad many of the buildings along West Granada Boulevard looked 10 years ago.
For examples, she pointed out the Brighthouse/Ace Hardware Complex, and buildings such as 31 on the Boulevard and Rose Villa.
She said redevelopment is an ongoing project.
“We’ll never finish,” she said.
