CDD directs legal review after HPCA schedules "Coffee With Candidates" event

The Heritage Pines Community Development District board voted unanimously Sept. 17 to direct the district manager to review implications of an HPCA‑scheduled “Coffee With Candidates” event and to ask District Counsel for a legal opinion on potential Florida Sunshine Law issues.

Vice Chair Arthur Rhodes raised concerns that the event, scheduled by HPCA staff on Oct. 9, 2024, and promoted with candidate bios, could function as a campaign forum and risk Sunshine Law violations if multiple sitting CDD board members attend. Rhodes noted board attendance records he said showed some outside candidates had not regularly attended CDD meetings: "Mr. Kleeman attended one CDD meeting, while Mr. Steele and Mr. Putman have not attended any CDD meetings," and argued that the HPCA’s scheduling and distribution of resumes raise “serious problems in the relationship between the HPCA and the CDD.”

HPCA General Manager Herb Hurley told the board that "the candidates asked for the event to be scheduled so they could become known as candidates for the CDD Board." District Manager Chuck Adams cautioned that sitting board members are constrained by the Sunshine Law and said he will request a memorandum from District Counsel; Adams also reminded board members not to reply-all to the related email.

The board’s motion (moved by Arthur Rhodes and seconded by Carol Vaughan) directs the district manager to review the implications of outside candidates and alleged hostile relationships and directs District Counsel to provide a legal opinion. The motion passed "with all in favor."