Comments on: Century To Consider Hiring Attorney For Task Force Members Charged With Sunshine Law Violation http://www.northescambia.com/2016/08/century-to-consider-hiring-attorney-for-task-force-members-charged-with-sunshine-law-violation Local News for Molino, Bratt, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill, Cantonment Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:49:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: IMHO http://www.northescambia.com/2016/08/century-to-consider-hiring-attorney-for-task-force-members-charged-with-sunshine-law-violation/comment-page-1#comment-328069 IMHO Fri, 26 Aug 2016 00:28:21 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=261449#comment-328069 I respect anyone that wants to be involved in helping their community whether it be by election or volunteer. That said the Sunshine Law is not some secret or obscure law. It has been discussed in the news, in the paper, and on this site. If you want the responsibility then you also have an obligation to know what laws or ordinances affect the position that you are filling. These people were wrong and it is not fair to expect the city to pay their fines or legal fees. It would have been simple to reschedule the meeting and make sure the public was notified. Perhaps they should reconsider their volunteer status if they do not want to find out their other obligations in regard tot he position they are filling. I respect anyone that wants to be involved in helping their community whether it be by election or volunteer. That said the Sunshine Law is not some secret or obscure law. It has been discussed in the news, in the paper, and on this site. If you want the responsibility then you also have an obligation to know what laws or ordinances affect the position that you are filling. These people were wrong and it is not fair to expect the city to pay their fines or legal fees. It would have been simple to reschedule the meeting and make sure the public was notified. Perhaps they should reconsider their volunteer status if they do not want to find out their other obligations in regard tot he position they are filling.

]]> By: M in Bratt http://www.northescambia.com/2016/08/century-to-consider-hiring-attorney-for-task-force-members-charged-with-sunshine-law-violation/comment-page-1#comment-328039 M in Bratt Thu, 25 Aug 2016 13:48:28 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=261449#comment-328039 To the defenders of these law breakers; Please take note that the town clerk of Century, and the Hired Consultant were both at this out of the sunshine meeting, and both of them should be well aware of the law. Who knows what was discussed at this out of the sunshine meeting because it was OUT OF THE SUNSHINE. If we let the committees that advise government have secret meetings without repercussions, what's next? Do we let the Century Town Council have secret meetings? The law is very clear, and for it to be effective it has to be enforced at every level of government. Making the comparison that "Hillary got away with it" makes no sense. If Hillary had been called to task early in her career, she probably wouldn't be where she is today. To the defenders of these law breakers; Please take note that the town clerk of Century, and the Hired Consultant were both at this out of the sunshine meeting, and both of them should be well aware of the law. Who knows what was discussed at this out of the sunshine meeting because it was OUT OF THE SUNSHINE. If we let the committees that advise government have secret meetings without repercussions, what’s next? Do we let the Century Town Council have secret meetings? The law is very clear, and for it to be effective it has to be enforced at every level of government.
Making the comparison that “Hillary got away with it” makes no sense. If Hillary had been called to task early in her career, she probably wouldn’t be where she is today.

]]> By: I am thinking http://www.northescambia.com/2016/08/century-to-consider-hiring-attorney-for-task-force-members-charged-with-sunshine-law-violation/comment-page-1#comment-328033 I am thinking Thu, 25 Aug 2016 05:24:30 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=261449#comment-328033 these people just got together a little early. For the sake of common sense, tell them they could get in trouble for this kind of thing and go forth and do some real work. It is not shaken the foundation of our country. There are folks in high places doing much worse with no consequences. If it continues, then do something about it. But go on to something important. Forget it!!! these people just got together a little early. For the sake of common sense, tell them they could get in trouble for this kind of thing and go forth and do some real work. It is not shaken the foundation of our country. There are folks in high places doing much worse with no consequences. If it continues, then do something about it. But go on to something important. Forget it!!!

]]> By: Alex http://www.northescambia.com/2016/08/century-to-consider-hiring-attorney-for-task-force-members-charged-with-sunshine-law-violation/comment-page-1#comment-328032 Alex Thu, 25 Aug 2016 04:45:03 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=261449#comment-328032 Gene, just like you said, do not discuss anything outside the meeting. Well they didn't. Gene, just like you said, do not discuss anything outside the meeting. Well they didn’t.

]]> By: Gene http://www.northescambia.com/2016/08/century-to-consider-hiring-attorney-for-task-force-members-charged-with-sunshine-law-violation/comment-page-1#comment-328017 Gene Wed, 24 Aug 2016 18:17:25 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=261449#comment-328017 From being another Volunteer Committee Member myself ... I was given the Sunshine Law book, all necessary materials to know what the Law says.... SIMPLE, Do NOT discuss with other members outside of said meeting! SIMPLE.... if a child misbehaves and you bail said child out - they WILL misbehave again!!! JUST SAYING!!! they will never learn said lesson. From being another Volunteer Committee Member myself … I was given the Sunshine Law book, all necessary materials to know what the Law says…. SIMPLE, Do NOT discuss with other members outside of said meeting! SIMPLE…. if a child misbehaves and you bail said child out – they WILL misbehave again!!! JUST SAYING!!! they will never learn said lesson.

]]> By: Alex http://www.northescambia.com/2016/08/century-to-consider-hiring-attorney-for-task-force-members-charged-with-sunshine-law-violation/comment-page-1#comment-328016 Alex Wed, 24 Aug 2016 18:13:50 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=261449#comment-328016 These ladies must have been planning an evil scheme to conquer the world. Why else would so much attention be given to such a minor thing. It was not a closed door meeting the doors were not locked. They were trying not to hide anything. They are not "PUBLIC OFFICIALS." AND THEY WERE NOT DRIVING A CAR. These ladies must have been planning an evil scheme to conquer the world. Why else would so much attention be given to such a minor thing. It was not a closed door meeting the doors were not locked. They were trying not to hide anything. They are not “PUBLIC OFFICIALS.” AND THEY WERE NOT DRIVING A CAR.

]]> By: jeeperman http://www.northescambia.com/2016/08/century-to-consider-hiring-attorney-for-task-force-members-charged-with-sunshine-law-violation/comment-page-1#comment-328011 jeeperman Wed, 24 Aug 2016 14:14:09 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=261449#comment-328011 per the older article link above, "Debbie Nickles, Century’s town planner, said the meeting had been held at 2 p.m. Tuesday. She said letters mailed to the four citizens on the task force had advised them to arrive for a meeting at 2 p.m. She said the discrepancy between meeting time in the letters and the legal public notices was discussed, and the meeting was held despite the improper public notice. Nickles said she was present at the meeting, along with town consultant Robin Phillips and CATF members Sylvia Godwin, Helen Mincy, Robert Mitchell and Alfonzie Cottrell." __________________________________________________________________ They all knew about the violation. Nickles and Phillips should have been well aware that the law said to postpone or reschedule the meeting. And whoever decided to go ahead with the meeting anyways should be the ones charged. per the older article link above, “Debbie Nickles, Century’s town planner, said the meeting had been held at 2 p.m. Tuesday. She said letters mailed to the four citizens on the task force had advised them to arrive for a meeting at 2 p.m. She said the discrepancy between meeting time in the letters and the legal public notices was discussed, and the meeting was held despite the improper public notice.

Nickles said she was present at the meeting, along with town consultant Robin Phillips and CATF members Sylvia Godwin, Helen Mincy, Robert Mitchell and Alfonzie Cottrell.”
__________________________________________________________________
They all knew about the violation. Nickles and Phillips should have been well aware that the law said to postpone or reschedule the meeting.
And whoever decided to go ahead with the meeting anyways should be the ones charged.

]]> By: M in Bratt http://www.northescambia.com/2016/08/century-to-consider-hiring-attorney-for-task-force-members-charged-with-sunshine-law-violation/comment-page-1#comment-328002 M in Bratt Wed, 24 Aug 2016 12:08:00 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=261449#comment-328002 In Florida, transparency is not up to the whim or grace of public officials. Instead, it is an enforceable right. — Attorney General Pam Bondi http://www.myflsunshine.com/ Above is what our Attorney General, and the law say about it. Also there is a web address with all the info about the law that Freddie and crew could have gotten to with a few clicks on their lap top. Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law. In Florida, transparency is not up to the whim or grace of public officials. Instead, it is an enforceable right.
— Attorney General Pam Bondi

http://www.myflsunshine.com/

Above is what our Attorney General, and the law say about it. Also there is a web address with all the info about the law that Freddie and crew could have gotten to with a few clicks on their lap top. Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.

]]> By: chris http://www.northescambia.com/2016/08/century-to-consider-hiring-attorney-for-task-force-members-charged-with-sunshine-law-violation/comment-page-1#comment-328000 chris Wed, 24 Aug 2016 11:06:27 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=261449#comment-328000 Yes. Looking at how Century conducts business certainly astounds me. Chris for living blissfully. Yes. Looking at how Century conducts business certainly astounds me. Chris for living blissfully.

]]> By: molinoman http://www.northescambia.com/2016/08/century-to-consider-hiring-attorney-for-task-force-members-charged-with-sunshine-law-violation/comment-page-1#comment-327996 molinoman Wed, 24 Aug 2016 05:28:42 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=261449#comment-327996 @chris, really? You surely can't be that thick. First off there are laws in place with your analogy, if the car is owned by you yes you are at fault and should be fined. Guess what? If the car is owned by someone else guess who's fault it is if they knowingly let you drive or you volunteer to drive? It is the owner of the cars fault and they would be fined. In this case this committee was put in place by the town/city so it is not the volunteers fault for not knowing, it is the town/city's fault for letting them drive the car, er, hold the meeting at an unannounced time. The level of ignorance in some people is astounding. @chris, really? You surely can’t be that thick. First off there are laws in place with your analogy, if the car is owned by you yes you are at fault and should be fined. Guess what? If the car is owned by someone else guess who’s fault it is if they knowingly let you drive or you volunteer to drive? It is the owner of the cars fault and they would be fined. In this case this committee was put in place by the town/city so it is not the volunteers fault for not knowing, it is the town/city’s fault for letting them drive the car, er, hold the meeting at an unannounced time. The level of ignorance in some people is astounding.

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