Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/293799
whole purpose is to explore all email to look for a single instance of policy discussion." City Manager Tom Barwin reminded the commission the IPAP "is a recommending body. They do not make decisions. Those are referred to the City Commission. Nor are their recommendations binding on the chief [of police]." During the "open to the public" period in the discussion, people raised issues about the purpose of the suit. Dale Orlando noted that IPAP Chairwoman Eileen Normile has publicly questioned the establishment of a comeasyouare shelter for the homeless after visiting one in Pinellas County that has been held up as a model. "Following that, this lawsuit came up," he said. Early last year, Barwin was told he would face a Sunshine suit unless he disbanded an ad hoc task force of city staffers and community leaders working on the issue of homeless ness. And most recently, Commissioner Susan Chapman has been defending herself with her own money against a Citizens for Sunshine suit challenging a meeting with constituents on the issue of homelessness. Longtime civic activist Kate Lowman told the City Commission, "It now looks like [mem bers of Citizens for Sunshine] selectively target people who oppose them. Is it a coin cidence this threat follows the release of a preliminary report by the chair [of the IPAP] opposing the shelter? If we simply roll over every time there is a threat, who will run for Police Chief Bernadette DiPino is one of the ex officio members of the Independent Police Advisory Panel. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader April 11, 2014 Page 28