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TIP votes to add Brevard Recovery Fest organizer after debate over committee composition and Sunshine Law implications
Summary
After a lengthy discussion about TIP's statutory membership, Sunshine Law concerns and meeting cadence, members voted to approve Laura McCarthy of Brevard Recovery Fest as an at-large member and formed an ad hoc committee to review the TIP resolution and membership rules.
Members of TIP debated the committee's size, statutory composition and whether some communications among members could violate the state Sunshine Law before voting to appoint Laura McCarthy (Brevard Recovery Fest) as an at-large member.
Rebecca Tiber (City of Melbourne) said she was concerned about the TIP's large membership and possible Sunshine Law implications. "My understanding when I first joined this committee that it was also subject to the sunshine law, which brings some concerns for me as far as people that are members of the committee communicating outside of the committee," she said, adding questions about whether the body should be an official county committee or an informal stakeholder group.
Multiple members agreed the resolution that created TIP should be revisited. Members proposed an ad hoc committee to review statutory membership requirements, attendance expectations and whether subcommittees should meet more regularly. Volunteers named for the ad hoc included Rebecca Tiber (City of Melbourne), Phil Scarpelli (Family Partnerships), Tracy Flintfield (DCF), Omar Bola (Department of Juvenile Justice) and a Brevard Public Schools representative; staff were asked to poll availability and schedule a meeting before the March TIP session.
Separately, Laura McCarthy asked to be seated as an at-large member so she could be eligible to participate in possible forthcoming RFAs. Several members noted that if no RFA was imminent, delay would not preclude her participation, but others said she had asked for months to join. Omar Bola moved to appoint McCarthy as an at-large member; Phil Scarpelli seconded the motion. The chair called for the voice vote and the motion passed.
Members agreed to place a resolution-review update on the March agenda and to review the applicable statute as part of the ad hoc's work.
The vote and the ad hoc formation represent procedural steps TIP members said were needed to clarify membership roles, improve engagement and ensure compliance with statutory and procurement requirements.
