TCPalm by Colleen Wixon
April 24, 2018
PORT ST. LUCIE — An appeals court decision, issued last week, could end up forcing the city to revisit its 2013 separation agreement with former city manager and now Mayor Greg Oravec.
At issue is:
- Whether then-City Attorney Roger Orr discussed Oravec’s termination and subsequent $92,000 separation agreement in private, individual conversations with council members.
- Whether proper notice was given for a February 2013 meeting designed to “cure” any Sunshine Law violations.
- Whether that meeting effectively cured any violations by allowing public discussion of the separation agreement.
A lawsuit against the city by Lakeland-based Transparency for Florida contended the violations occurred and the public did not have enough notice about the meeting. The group’s lawsuit named the city, Orr and former council members Ron Bowen, Shannon Martin and Joann Faiella as defendants.
On Tuesday, Transparency for Florida attorney Megan Lazenby did not return phone calls seeking comment on the appeals court ruling. Attorneys for Orr, Bowen, Martin and Faiella also did not return calls seeking comment.