Madeira Beach and four commission members are accused of violating the Sunshine Law and conducting city business in private. A lawsuit alleges that commissioners made the decision to hire a city attorney outside of public view and without public input. As Lauren Peace of the Tampa Bay Times reports, the plaintiff has successfully brought two other Sunshine Law cases against Madeira Beach and officials.
First Amendment Foundation executive director, Pamela Marsh, spoke to the Times about the importance of the Sunshine Law and its role in a healthy democracy. In addition, Marsh addressed a commissioner’s comments that there is no Sunshine Law violation unless a commissioners gives out information of wrongdoing. As Marsh notes, there are repercussions for violating the law.