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Home My WebLink About04 06 1989 Sebastian Airport Growth editorialV Editorials 14A, Thursday, April 6, 1989, Vero Beach, Fla., Press -Journal Opini n Sebastian Airport Growth A potential .problem is brewing in Sebastian and we hope that city officials take action to avoid it. Councilmen Lloyd Rondeau and Robert McCollum were recently elected to their posts as part of a cam- paign designed to combat the city's Airport Master Plan and make sure no additional growth occurs at the airport. They have been members of Citizens Airport Watch, a political action committee that backed their candidacies and also urged voters to approve a refer- endum that would restrict action at the airport. While we see nothing wrong with their decisions to be members of such an advocacy group, we see poten- tial problems if they discuss city business at CAW meetings. A similar problem existed a' few years ago in Vero Beach, when members of the Vero Beach Planning and Zoning Board also served on the board of the. Civic Association of Vero Beach and Indian River County. A problem would arise in Sebastian if councilmen, at a meeting of the CAW, began discussing city busi- ness that could lead to possible action at council meetings. In such an instance, not all members of the public would have access to the men's statements unless the meeting was declared open and advertised as such.,, Open `meetings are mandated in Florida municipal- ities and on various state levels. Violations of such open meetings laws.are criminal actions and may be prosecuted. After the state attorney's office reviewed the Vero Beach Planning and Zoning Board case, a grand jury directed the city attorney to instruct various public servants on the Sunshine Law. It also directed the city to have certain guidelines for its board members. We urge the .city to take action to make sure prob- lems won't occur in the future. Unintentional vio- lations of the Sunshine Law could be avoided if Sebastian's city attorney carefully instructs council- men on the law and offers practical guidelines.