The company that provides the manicured lawns and pruned bushes along the Westchase community's common areas could shut down.
Westchase Community Development District supervisors recently learned that Vila and Sons, the landscaping company, has entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The company filed a state required notice that its employees faced potential job losses within 60 days because the company could be sold. The news had supervisors worried. They feared they could be left without a provider.
"When I saw it, I was greatly concerned," Chairman Mark Ragusa said. He said the notice often hurts company business and is the final blow before closing.
Steve Penny, a district manager for the landscape company, said the letter has hurt business and that they've lost several contracts. Westchase is the biggest contract for the company's Tampa branch.
Some CDD supervisors did praise the company's work. But the Westchase district supervisor suggested the supervisors devise a backup plan. Field manager Doug Mays said he has several companies ready to fill in.
In other action, supervisors:
- Decided to issue an evaluation of park areas and playgrounds to determine which would need changes to meet new Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. It could cost $25,000 per site to bring the areas up to the new codes. Some spots may be exempt due to when they were built.
- Finalized the 2012 budget. Some new capital projects include additional benches, trash cans and shaded canopies.
- Heard from the president of the company that operates the Westchase Town Center. The CDD is suing the company for excessive tree trimming. President Alan Charon asked the board to drop the suit because it would mean increased rents for shop owners and the company already paid a fine. Supervisors disagreed on whether to end it.
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