02.17.2021 - City Council MinutesCity of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL ETHICS TRAINING
February 17, 2021
The City Council met in a noticed training on Tuesday, February 17, 2021 via Zoom. City Attorney
Mantzaris called the meeting to order at 4:01pm with the following Council Members present: Council
Members Pines, Entsuah, Purvis, Bates and Mayor Murry.
Other City officials present were City Attorney Mantzaris, Interim City Manager Dauderis, IT Director
Dennis, and Deputy City Clerk Lueth.
1. PRESENTATION
City Attorney Mantzaris introduced the presentation as the second part of the required 4-hours of ethics
training. The second part will focus on the Sunshine Law and Open Records Law. The presentation was
given via PowerPoint, and the following topics were covered:
• Purpose and Intent of Sunshine Law
• Open Meetings Law at the State versus Local Government
• What Constitutes a Meeting
• Exemptions from the Sunshine Law
• Meeting Notice Requirements
• Minutes of Meetings
• Rights of the Public to Participate and be Heard
• Quasi -Judicial Proceedings
• Violations of the Sunshine Law
• What is a Public Record
• Responding to Public Records
• Maintenance & Storage of Public Records
• Retention & Disposition
• Violations of Public Records Law
Council Member Purvis asked about the collective council member's power to overrule the mayor regarding
time limits on public speaking. He asked if the public needs to know that they can petition the whole
Council. City Attorney Mantzaris replied that staff had already considered this and that the City Clerk
would be amending the agenda to include language about the power of the Council.
Council Member Pines asked about quasi-judicial proceedings. She specifically asked about a member of
a board speaking to the Council. City Attorney Mantzaris replied that it is not a violation for any one
member of the Council to speak with any one member of a city board about an issue. City Attorney
Mantzaris did caution that it could be an ex parte communication though in some circumstances and if that
is the case, the Council Member would need to disclose the discussion and the person who it was discussed
with.
Council Member Pines asked about a board member coining before the Council during a City Council
meeting and if there are any conflicts. City Attorney Mantzaris replied that appointed board members do
not lose their rights as citizens, but they should disclose that they are speaking as a private citizen and not
as a member of the board they are appointed to.
Council Member Purvis asked if an email comes into the city email but does not go to the City Manager or
City Clerk does it have to be forwarded to them. City Attorney Mantzaris said that council member email
is archived instantly for all council members on their City email.
1
City of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL ETHICS TRAINING
February 17, 2021
Council Member Purvis informed the Council that he copies his city issued email in any response from his
private email that deals with City business and encouraged others to do the same.
With no further comments or questions, the seminar ended at 5:58pm.
APPROVED:
Tim Murry, m ayor,
ATTEST:
Tracy Ackroyd Howe, City Clerk