Estero names top development officials

ESTERO — The Village of Estero hired two longtime municipal government experts to oversee permitting and public notices, among other tasks.

Mary Gibbs was named community development director and Kathleen Hall was appointed village clerk, according to a statement.

Gibbs recently retired from a 30-year career in Lee County, where she was known as a leader in one-stop permitting and other process efficiencies, including the expansion of electronic services, say Estero officials. Gibbs' last position in Lee County was director of community development.

In her new position, Gibbs provides information to the public, builders and developers about Estero's land use policies and procedures and is the principal liaison with Lee County on code enforcement. She also supervises and coordinates land use and permitting on zoning, planning, building and development requests, the statement adds.

Hall is responsible to give notice for all public meetings and workshops to council members, planning and zoning board and design review board members and the public. She keeps the journal and minutes of the proceedings of the council and all boards and committees, which will be public records, and handles other clerk responsibilities. Hall, with more than three decades experience in municipal records, was most recently the deputy clerk in Sanibel. She has also been a clerk in Temple Terrace and Oregon.

Gibbs and Hall will report to the Interim Village of Estero Manager Peter Lombardi.

Residents of Estero, in south Lee County, voted to form a village last year. The area, between Fort Myers and Naples, is a prime target for growth and development.