A letter from the Office of the State Attorney finding no evidence of criminal intent or false statements in the town manager’s actions was read into the record at the Town of Loxahatchee Groves council meeting on Dec. 2. The reading summarized the office’s review of the town manager’s 08/23/23 request for legal guidance about a code-enforcement lien-reduction policy and cited Florida Statute 162.09 and the Shore v. Town of Loxahatchee Groves compliance case (No. 2018577).

The letter, dated Nov. 21 and recited aloud by the meeting chair, states that town manager Romalia “did her due diligence in requesting legal guidance regarding code enforcement reduction issues” and that the criteria in the draft lien‑reduction policy were based on the statutory guidance used by special magistrates. The magistrate in the Shore hearing (Amity Barnard) said her ruling relied on the town’s moratorium, staffing and COVID‑related delays, not on Romalia’s testimony. The letter’s concluding language, read to the council, said the available information did not indicate criminal intent or false statements and that “This inquiry is closed.”

Council members responded that the reading should help resolve community concern. The council recorded no formal vote on the letter itself; staff provided the text to be entered into the meeting record. The town attorney said the citation to state statute and to the magistrate’s decision is part of the public record supporting the office’s conclusion.

What happens next: the council recorded the letter in the meeting minutes and said staff would publish the letter text in the meeting packet; no further administrative action regarding the inquiry was reported at the meeting.