Item K1 K1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY of MONROE Mayor James K.Scholl,District 3
The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Tern Michelle Lincoln,District 2
Craig Cates,District 1
David Rice,District 4
Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
March 25, 2025
Agenda Item Number: KI
2023-3572
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: County Attorney
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Kelly Dugan
N/A
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: An Attorney-Client Closed Session in the matter of Monroe County,
Florida v. Leonardo Rodriguez and Pilar Franco, 16th Judicial Circuit Case No. 22-CA-349-P.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
Per F.S. 286.011(8), the subject matter of the meeting shall be confined to settlement negotiations or
strategy sessions related to litigation expenditures. Present at the meeting will be the County
Commissioners, County Administrator Christine Hurley, County Attorney Bob Shillinger, Assistant
County Attorney Kelly Dugan, and a certified court reporter.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
02-19-25 Item 3573 - the BOCC approved holding a closed session at the regular BOCC meeting on 03-
25-25 in Key Largo at 10:00 a.m. or as soon thereafter as may be heard.
11-19-24 Item 3086 - Closed session held.
10-16-24 Item 3085 - Request for a closed session.
06-06-21 Item 8270 -Authorization to initiate litigation regarding CE19030156.
INSURANCE REQUIRED:
No
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Hold the closed session.
DOCUMENTATION:
Closed Session Script for Rodriguez Franco March 25 2025.docx
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FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Total Cost to County: Court Reporter Costs
Budgeted: Yes
Source of Funds: 67501-530330
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Mayor's Script
For the day of Closed Session
The following should be read at the appropriate point during the day of the closed session.
1. Prior to going into closed session.
A closed attorney-client session pursuant to Section 286.011(8), Florida Statutes, will now be held
concerning the matter of Monroe County, Florida v. Leonardo Rodriguez and Pilar Franco, 16'h Judicial Circuit
Case No. 22-CA-349-P. It is estimated that this meeting will take approximately thirty (30) minutes. The persons
attending the closed meeting will be the County Commissioners, County Administrator Christine Hurley, County
Attorney Bob Shillinger, Assistant County Attorney Kelly Dugan, and a certified court reporter.
Since the law prohibits any other person from being present at the closed session, the commissioners, the
county administrator,the attorneys for the county, and the court reporter will now remain in this meeting room, and
all other persons are required to leave the room. When the closed session is over, we will re-convene and re-open
the public meeting. This public meeting is now closed.
2. At the beginning of the closed session.
I now call this closed session to order. For the record, this meeting is being held upon the request of the
County Attorney Bob Shillinger who announced at a prior BOCC Meeting held on 02/19/25 that he needed advice
in the matter of Monroe County, Florida v. Leonardo Rodriguez and Pilar Franco, 16'h Judicial Circuit Case No.
22-CA-349-P. At that meeting, the Board approved holding a closed session and public notice was given through
public announcement of the meeting at the 02/19/25 BOCC meeting and through publication of the 03/25/25 BOCC
meeting agendas on the County's website.
For the record, and the benefit of the court reporter, each of us will state our name and position starting
with the commission.
(After all have identified themselves) —Thank you.
Just as a reminder, we will only be discussing settlement negotiations or strategy related to litigation
expenditures. We cannot take any decisive action at this meeting. We can only provide information and direction
to the attorneys. Any decisions this Board makes concerning this claim must be done in a meeting open to the
public.
Let's start our discussion with the County Attorney.
3. At the end of the closed session,prior to going into open session.
This closed session is now terminated and we will now reconvene in the public meeting.
4. After the public session has been re-opened.
The attorney-client closed session has been terminated, and we are now re-opening this public
meeting.
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