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CDD directs legal review after dispute over "Coffee With Candidates" event
Summary
Supervisors voted to have the District Manager and District Counsel review an HPCA-organized "Coffee With Candidates" event set for Oct. 9, 2024, after concerns it could violate the Florida Sunshine Law and raise questions about the HPCA–CDD relationship.
The Heritage Pines Community Development District Board of Supervisors voted Sept. 17 to direct the district manager and district counsel to review an HPCA-organized "Coffee With Candidates" event and provide a legal opinion on potential Sunshine Law violations.
Vice Chair Arthur Rhodes raised concerns that the event, as organized by the Heritage Pines Community Association, appeared to serve as a campaign event rather than a neutral opportunity for the public to learn about candidates. Rhodes said materials attached to the event included candidate biographies and asked who had instructed Ms. Kim Norton to schedule the event and distribute the bios. He also noted attendance records, saying that in fiscal year 2024 Mr. Kleeman attended one CDD meeting while Mr. Steele and Mr. Putman did not attend any, raising questions about the candidates' engagement.
HPCA General Manager Herb Hurley said the candidates had asked for the event so they could become known as candidates. When asked about discord following a major contract for CDD maintenance, Mr. Hurley declined to discuss the matter further, saying it "should be discussed between the attorneys." District Manager Chuck Adams told the board he will "ask District Counsel to prepare a Memorandum offering their opinion on the matter" and reminded board members not to reply to the related email.
On a motion by Arthur Rhodes, seconded by Carol Vaughan, the board approved directing the District Manager to review the implications of outside candidates and the alleged hostile relationship and directing District Counsel to provide a legal opinion. The motion passed "with all in favor."
