Blatant Contravention!

            The Finance Committee is in contravention of the Sunshine Laws which have been adopted by UCO and are enshrined in the bylaws. UCO officers  denied access to “ renters” at their last meeting of the Finance Committee in the clubhouse. This is an egregious act attempting to shut out a segment of the population of Century Village and deny them their right to attend. The Sunshine Laws require that meetings of boards or commissions must be open to the public. Meetings held in contravention of this law are invalid, and those in contravention of the act are prohibited from holding further meetings in the facility that supports the discrimination.

            This action is a contravention of civil rights and is a cause for action in civil  court as noted below.

            A reversal of this policy that has been applied for the first time in the history of Century Village is the only reasonable course of action for the administration, a continuation of denying civil rights in blatant contravention of the Sunshine Laws is not acceptable.

286.011 Public meetings and records; public inspection; criminal and civil penalties.—

(1) All meetings of any board or commission of any state agency or authority or of any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution, including meetings with or attended by any person elected to such board or commission, but who has not yet taken office, at which official acts are to be taken are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times, and no resolution, rule, or formal action shall be considered binding except as taken or made at such meeting. The board or commission must provide reasonable notice of all such meetings.

Officers who contravene Sunshine laws are subject to sanctions.

(3)(a) Any public officer who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a noncriminal infraction, punishable by fine not exceeding $500.

(b) Any person who is a member of a board or commission or of any state agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision who knowingly violates the provisions of this section by attending a meeting not held in accordance with the provisions hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.775.082or s.775.083.

(6) All persons subject to subsection (1) are prohibited from holding meetings at any facility or location which discriminates on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, color, origin, or economic status or which operates in such a manner as to unreasonably restrict public access to such a facility.