Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sunshine Law topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
General counsel reviews Florida Sunshine Law; meeting lacked quorum so actions deferred to Sept. 10
Summary
Shannon McGillis, Office of General Counsel, gave a Sunshine Law refresher at the Aug. 13 Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting and reminded members that private discussions about topics likely to come to a vote can violate the law. Because the meeting lacked a quorum, approval of minutes and any actions were deferred to Sept. 10.
Shannon McGillis of the Office of General Counsel gave a Sunshine Law refresher to the Jacksonville Waterways Commission at its Aug. 13 meeting, emphasizing that private communications between two or more members about subjects likely to come to a vote can create criminal Sunshine Law exposure.
McGillis walked commissioners through where to find a two-page Sunshine Law primer and explained that communications by phone, email or text are covered. "If members of the same board or commission are having a communication about a topic that is likely to come up to a vote, that will get you sunburned. This is a criminal offense," she said.
She also advised commissioners not to "ferry information" by asking staff to seek another member's position, and she offered to review borderline questions before members act. McGillis reminded the group about required ethics training and upcoming in-person and Zoom sessions.
Because the Aug. 13 meeting did not have a quorum, the commission deferred approval of minutes and any action items until its Sept. 10 meeting. The chair announced, and McGillis confirmed, that the commission will place action items, including the proposed Shad Creek no-wake resolution and approval of minutes, on the Sept. 10 agenda for formal consideration.
Ending: McGillis told members to direct borderline communications to her for review and to consult the online Sunshine Law primer and ethics resources; the commission will reconvene with a quorum to consider pending actions on Sept. 10.
