Gov. Charlie Crist suspended Coral Springs Commissioners Vincent Boccard and Tom Powers during the late afternoon of Monday, March 29.

The Broward State Attorney’s Office charged Boccard and Powers with violations of the Sunshine Law because they met at a restaurant. Under the Sunshine Law, two or more public officials who serve together on the same board cannot met except in a public forum such as a city commission meeting. The Broward State Attorney’s Office brought the charges on the morning of March 29 and is expected to prosecute. They are being charged with a second degree misdemeanor.  If convicted, they could be fined up to $500 or be sentenced to up to 60 days in the Broward County Jail.    

Boccard and Powers met to discuss salary freezes for the city’s police department and union activities.  The two commissioners met with Michael Hughes and Christopher Swinson of the Coral Springs Police Department.

They also discussed the employment agreement of City Manager Michael Levinson.  Also, they talked about a change in the Coral Springs City Charter where the city’s department heads would report to the city commission rather than the city manager as they do now.

Under the Coral Springs City Charter, the city commission will be required to appoint replacements for the two commissioners.

Powers was elected to the commission in 2008. He had served with the Arizona State Police. Boccard was elected to the commission in 2006.

Kevin Kulik, the attorney representing Powers said his client will plead innocent.  Boccard is also expected to plead innocent.

Mayor Scott Brook said that he was deeply saddened by the news but that professionally the city would persevere.