Sheriff: Dunedin Officials Didn't Break Sunshine Law

Two Dunedin elected officials were accused of collaborating outside of commission meetings to seek the termination of former City Manager Robert DiSpirito. The investigation began in January. Image via Shutterstock

DUNEDIN, FL — The investigation into alleged illegal actions by two Dunedin city officials has ended with no charges filed in the case.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement that it had closed the books on its investigation Thursday morning. That investigation involved City Commissioner Heather Gracy, 45, and Vice Mayor Bruce Livingston, 60.

Livingston and Gracy were accused of violating the Florida's Sunshine Law. The accusations, detectives concluded, was unfounded.

“According to detectives, their investigation began in January 2016 after they received complaints alleging that Dunedin City Commission members, Heather Gracy and Bruce Livingston had collaborated outside of a commission meeting to terminate then city manager, Robert DiSpirito,” an email from the sheriff’s office said.

After interviewing witnesses in the case, detectives found the allegations were unfounded, the sheriff’s office said.

DiSpirito ultimately resigned his post in January after serving nine years as city manager. He received a severance package in exchange for the resignation that added up to six months of pay, along with benefits, and other payouts, the Tampa Bay Times reported at the time.

Florida’s Sunshine Law covers a number of regulations that are meant to ensure open and transparent government operations. In addition to broad public record laws, the legislation makes it illegal for elected officials to take part in meetings together that are not open to the public and announced in advance. Only a few exemptions exist, such as an allowance for closed meetings to discuss pending litigation, for example.

To find out more about the Sunshine Law, visit Attorney General Pam Bondi’s website.

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