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Heritage Pines CDD asks counsel to review "Coffee With Candidates" after Sunshine Law concerns
Summary
Supervisors asked District Counsel for a legal opinion after an HPCA-scheduled Oct. 9 candidate event prompted questions about whether board members' attendance could violate the Florida Sunshine Law; the board unanimously approved the review and directed the manager to investigate implications.
The Heritage Pines Community Development District board voted Sept. 17 to seek a legal opinion and a manager review after questions about a candidate event organized by Heritage Pines Country Club Association staff.
Vice Chair Arthur Rhodes raised concerns that the October 9 "Coffee With Candidates" event, organized by HPCA staffer Kim Norton, could amount to a campaign event and potentially create Sunshine Law violations if multiple CDD members attend. Rhodes said the candidate materials attached to the event included resumes and bios for "Mr. Steel, Mr. Putman and Mr. Kleeman" and questioned who instructed Ms. Norton to schedule the event.
"The candidates asked for the event to be scheduled so they could become known as candidates for the CDD Board," HPCA General Manager Herb Hurley told the board when asked who requested the meeting be arranged. Rhodes also noted attendance records showing limited participation by the named candidates in Fiscal Year 2024.
On a motion by Mr. Rhodes, seconded by Ms. Vaughan, the board unanimously directed the District Manager to "review the implication of the outside candidates as to the alleged hostile relationship" and directed District Counsel to provide a legal opinion. The motion passed with all in favor.
District Manager Chuck Adams told the board he will ask District Counsel to prepare a memorandum on the issue and reminded members not to reply to the related email about the event. Adams also clarified that sitting board members are subject to the Sunshine Law and that only one member may attend certain public forums without raising a quorum/serial-communication concern.
The action does not prohibit the event; it requests legal guidance and a factual review of who scheduled it and how attendance by board members should be handled under Florida law.
