County attorney gives CRA advisory members a sunshine‑law refresher

Rachel Bartolowitz, senior assistant county attorney with the Lake County Attorney’s Office, opened the meeting’s substantive portion with a rules briefing about Florida’s Sunshine Law and public‑records obligations. She told members the law "applies to any gathering of 2 or more members of the same board" and stressed that discussions touching board business—whether in person, by email or on social media—should occur where the public can observe them.

Bartolowitz walked the committee through the constitutional and statutory basis for open meetings and records (Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution and chapter 286 of the Florida Statutes), explained the typical notice and minutes requirements, and outlined common pitfalls for advisory bodies—reply‑all email chains, private comment threads and asking third parties to relay messages. She said certain records exemptions exist but cautioned that exemptions to public records are not the same as exemptions to open‑meeting requirements. Bartolowitz closed by pointing members to attorney‑general opinions and county resources for follow‑up questions.