Although state Attorney General Pam Bondi has yet to render an opinion on the matter, a leading expert on the state’s Sunshine Laws said private meetings between county administrators and staff for the purpose of gathering and exchanging information are not obligated to be held in the public eye.

According to Jon Kaney, general counsel of the First Amendment Foundation, closed meetings between administrators and staff of the four counties represented in the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte) and the city manager
of North Port — one of the authority’s main customers — are not required to be open, public meetings if the objective is simply to exchange notes.