Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/109601
Sarasota News Leader February 15, 2013 Page 18 by the Sarasota nonprofit group Citizens for Sunshine. Meanwhile, Fournier was at the 12th Judicial Circuit courthouse, standing before Judge Lee Haworth, knowing he did not have a defense to mount. Fournier had warned Barwin the status of the ad hoc committee meant adequate notices of its meetings had to be sent out, minutes had to be kept and the sessions had to be made open to the public. According to the complaint by Citizens for Sunshine, the committee is composed of ���representatives of the Sarasota Police Department, Sarasota County, Sheriff���s Office, Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, the Salvation Army, Resurrection House, First Step, Coastal Behavioral Healthcare, Sarasota Memorial Hospital and individual members [Deputy County Administrator] Bill Little, [Police Capt.] Paul Sutton, Tom Pfaaf, Ali Kleber, Ken Alexander, Miriam Lacher, David Proch, John Annis, Leslie Loveless and Peter Fanning.��� Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier/Photo by Norman Schimmel of any prior meeting that was not noticed to the public.��� On Feb. 5, Barwin briefed a joint meeting of the Sarasota City and County commissions and laid out a program to hire caseworkers; he said he already had a commitment from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to assist the initiative. The complaint says the group, all or in part, met Jan. 11, Jan. 25, Feb. 5 and Feb. 7. ���We look to you, the county, to be partners with us,��� he said. ���We need to jump in, be flexThe ad hoc committee recommended in Januible, be nimble ��� and get after the issue a ary that the city hire social service caseworklittle more aggressively.��� ers to help the homeless find assistance. The recommendation included a business plan and Barwin has been Sarasota���s city manager less a budget, according to exhibits produced in than six months, having moved here from Illinois. He has attended a mandatory seminar on the court file. Florida���s Open Meetings and Public Records Haworth���s order noted two ���tripwires��� upon laws. which Barwin���s ad hoc committee had stumbled. His injunction banned any meeting with- This is the third successful action by Citizens out public notice ���of at least 72 hours in ad- for Sunshine against the City of Sarasota. vance.��� And it halts ���implementing any action Last year a judge ruled the city���s Civil Service or recommendation ��� including the expendi- Board violated Sunshine laws by discussing ture of public funds that occurred as a result the termination of a police officer outside a