COURTESY : The Daily Commercial

By Megan Shannon

Published February 14, 2006 

THE VILLAGES — The Villages Center District’s policy restricting gatherings and protests was rescinded Friday.

The policy, which was intended to keep Villages residents safe when visiting the downtown areas of Spanish Springs and Sumter Landing, has caused a stir in The Villages and throughout Sumter County. Residents have called the policy un-American and a tax on their rights.

In a Feb. 8 letter to the supervisors on both The Villages Center Community Development District and Sumter Landing Community Development District boards, District Manager Pete Wahl wrote that after meeting again to discuss policy amendments, the staff could make no recommendations that they thought would be accepted by the public and said the policy should be rescinded.

“Due to the fact that any limit upon size, or date of application, or any other requirements can be viewed by some to be arbitrary, staff is not able at this time to recommend a policy that we believe acceptable,” Wahl wrote. “In light of that, staff is requesting that the original adopted policy be rescinded, at this time, with any existing amendments withdrawn.”

“No matter what conditions are placed, someone might find objection,” Wahl said.

The policy was originally approved not only to protect the residents, officials said, but also to protect the center districts from costs that could result from gatherings. In a letter to the boards, Wahl wrote that the districts should know about a gathering in advance so they can prepare by requesting things such as law enforcement, if needed.

He said the cost of such preparations should not be absorbed by the districts’ general fund, which would ultimately cost the residents.

Residents and an American Civil Liberties Union representative said a $1 million insurance policy naming the center districts, which was required under the policy before any kind of gathering took place, was too much. This provision was rejected by the board during the last Villages Center District meeting.

The downtown areas were targeted to keep gatherings from inconveniencing residents. But residents argued during the last Villages Center District meeting that the downtown areas are the only place they have to go to be heard, since the boards of supervisors in the two center districts are not elected by the people.

“That is the only way we can get their attention,” said resident Bill Garner. “We don’t get a vote.”

In his letter, Wahl made the board aware that without such a policy the district could be solely responsible for injuries or damages that may occur during a gathering on the commercial areas of Spanish Springs and Sumter Landing.

Wahl said that if the policy is ever revisited, the staff will work with a group of residents to form new recommendations.