Orlando Sentinel by Beth Kassab
September 6, 2019
The First Amendment Foundation on Friday requested State Attorney Aramis Ayala investigate whether any members of the public board that controls Orlando International Airport violated Florida’s Sunshine Law in regards to a plan to hire new attorneys for the airport.
Barbara Petersen, president of the foundation, told Ayala her request was prompted by Orlando Sentinel reports about the Aug. 28 meeting, which Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings called “unprecedented” and “dangerous.”
“The only two no votes came from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, both of whom questioned whether there had been discussions among board members prior to the public meeting,” Petersen wrote. “Additionally, board member Ralph Martinez questioned how the two attorneys had been selected.”
A spokeswoman for Ayala’s office could not be reached late Friday. Florida’s open meetings laws prohibit two or more members of a board to discuss business that will come before the board outside of the public eye.
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