Court denies rehearing for Grapski, Canney in suit against city

TALLAHASSEE – A Florida appellate court has refused to rehear a lawsuit by local activists who were handed a partial victory in January against the City of Alachua for public records violations.

Michael Canney, who is running for Alachua City Commission, and Charles Grapski filed a motion for rehearing after the First District Court of Appeal held that the City violated public records laws when the deputy city clerk refused to turn over minutes from the board meeting, but it was not a violation of open meetings laws for the Commission to approve minutes via a consent agenda.

In its denial of the motion for rehearing, the court referred to another recent decision interpreting Florida Sunshine laws to mean that citizens have a right to spectate but not speak or interfere with meetings.