Town Council Attorney Meeting

TOWN OF LOXAHATCHEE GROVES TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES OF ATTORNEY-CLIENT CLOSED DOOR SESSION APRIL 25, 2022 Meeting audio available in To.rn Clerk 's Office CALL TO ORDER Vice Mayor Danowski called meeting to o rder at 2:04 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Vice Mayor Danowski led the Pledge of A lleg iance. MOMENT OF SILENCE Vice Mayor Danowski led the Moment of Silence. ROLL CALL Mayor Robert Shorr (absent), Vice Mayor Laura Danowski, Co unc ilmembers Margaret Herzog, Phillis Maniglia, and Marianne Miles, Town Manager James T itcomb, Town Attorney E lizabeth Lenihan, Outside Counsel Jeffrey Hochman and T own C lerk Lakisha Burch. Town Attorney Elizabeth Lenihan read the below caption : Attorney -Client Session Monday, April 2 5, 2022, 2 :00 p. m. Attorney-C lient C losed Door Session Pursuant to section 286.0 11 (8), Florida Statutes, the Town Attorney announced her desire for advice from the Town Council concerning pending litigatio n, specifically regarding se ttlement negotiations and strategy related to litigation expenditures in the case of John Pata, Regina Maria Christina Burgio as Trustee of the Torchia Family Trust u/s/d July 6, 2016, Vanessa A. M ontoya and Andrew Somar, PB C L, LLC, Brian McNeil and Judy L. Westlake, and Ramachandra Bhat and Naga laxmi R. Bhat v. Town of Loxahatchee Groves, Florida, Case No. 50202 1-CA-0 11 838, in the circ uit court of the 15th Judicial C ircuit, in and for Palm Beach County, Florida and she requested an attorney-cli e nt sessio n to be sc heduled fo r April 25 , 2022, at 2 :00 p.m. The Town Attorney made thi s request at the Town C ounc il ' s public meeting held o n April 19, 2022. The sessio n w ill be attended by the members of the Town Council Mayo r Robert Shorr (Tov,;n Attorney stated that the mayor was abse nt and may be coming in); Vice May o r Laura Danowski; Co uncil Mem bers Phillis Manig lia, Marge Herzog, and Marianne Mile s; Town Manager Jamie T itcomb; Town Attorney, Eli zabeth Lenihan; and o uts ide co unsel Jeffrey Hochman. A ce11ified court reporte r will be present to ensure that the session is fu ll y transcribed. Town of Loxahatchee Groves April 25, 2022 Attorney-Client Closed Door Session Meeting Minutes Page No. l and the transcript will be made public upon the conclusion of the above-cited, ongoing litigation. The estimated length of the attorney-client session will be approximately 60 minutes. Councilmember Maniglia stated that she needs to disclose that she is a local realtor and need to recuse herself. She also stated that she spoke with the Town Attorney who suggested she could seat and lesson but not participate. Councilmember Miles also stated that she may have a conflict of interest as well and will also not participate. Councilmember Maniglia asked due to two Councilmembers having conflicts was there a quorum? Town Attorney Lenihan responded, yes. RECESS Vice Mayor Danowski recessed the meeting at 2:08 p.m. RECONVENE Mayor Shorr reconvened the meeting at 4:00 p.m. Town Attorney Lenihan stated that the Attorney-Client Session that was held on April 25, 2022 case of John Pata, Regina Maria Christina Burgio as Trustee of the Torchia Family Trust u/s/d July 6, 2016, Vanessa A. Montoya and Andrew Somar, PBCL, LLC, Brian McNeil and Judy L. Westlake, and Ramachandra Bhat and Nagalaxmi R. Bhat v. Town of Loxahatchee Groves, Florida, Case No.502021-CA-011838, in the circuit court of the 15th Judicial Circuit, in and for Palm Beach County, Florida has concluded at 4:00 p.m. Councilmember Maniglia asked could she make a statement? Councilmember Maniglia asked Vice Mayor Danowski to stick to her guns, our residents are taxpayers, they are not the bad guys and if roads are going to be 20 ft. because not all roads are 20 ft. Councilmember Miles commented about roads in Loxahatchee Groves and asked questions regarding roads and maintenance of them. Vice Mayor Danowski stated that this issue reflects a lack of compromise, understanding, and concession for a community. She also stated that she supports individuals' rights to make their feeling known and, but she feels there could have been a greater effort to work with Town Hall and legal to avoid a lawsuit. Mayor Shorr stated that he doesn't understand the fences, they are confusing. He stated those fences been there for years and there is a reason for that, he wishes he knew. Town Attorney responded. Mayor Shorr stated he would truly like to know the reason for better understanding. He stated he would hope we could document this so that we won't have this issue in the future. Town Clerk Burch gave Town Council an update on the two meetings being held for the residents regarding the Okeechobee Blvd. overlay. There was discussion among Town Council and Town Clerk. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:21 a.m. Town of Loxahatchee Groves April 25, 2022 An omey-Client C losed Door Session Meeting Minutes Page No. I TOWN OF LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, FLORIDA l~ --- 0 / / ' '-