SATELLITE BEACH, FL — On September 17, 2018, a meeting that was supposed to address community fears of cancer clusters and toxic contamination near Patrick Air Force Base instead deepened mistrust between city officials and residents. Public records reveal that the meeting, closed to residents, advocates, and the media, was carefully orchestrated to exclude dissenting voices while granting access to city friends.
The decision to restrict entry has since raised questions about transparency, misuse of power, and possible violations of Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Law. It also highlights the actions of then-Councilwoman Mindy Gibson, City Manager Courtney Barker, and other city officials who, according to emails, worked to shape the narrative rather than openly hear public concerns.
A Meeting Born of Citizen Action
The meeting was not originally the city’s idea. It came about because local advocates pressed for answers. They enlisted environmental expert Bob Bowcock, working with Erin Brockovich, to come to Satellite Beach at no cost to the city.
But just one day before the scheduled session, City Manager Courtney Barker sent Bowcock an email making clear that certain residents would not be welcome.
“We have specifically left out people that we felt would be combative and non-productive.” — Courtney Barker, September 2018Among those excluded were cancer survivors who had been spearheading the push for independent testing. Meanwhile, a resident known to be supportive of the city was allowed in.
Internal Emails: Discrediting Advocates
Records show that after the exclusion, Julie Finch, Barker’s administrative assistant, circulated an email to 25 recipients, including the Mayor, Council members, and staff. Finch’s message dismissed the concerns of environmental advocates as “misinformation on Facebook.”
Additional emails from Barker went further, claiming that community leaders would “make a scene,” “edit video out of context,” and “raise their profile” rather than pursue real solutions.
These remarks, sent to city insiders the day before a public council meeting, suggest a coordinated effort to discredit critics and rally political allies.
Sunshine Law Complaint Dismissed
On September 22, 2018, a Brevard County resident filed a report alleging the meeting violated the Sunshine Law, which guarantees public access to governmental meetings.
The complaint was handled internally by the Satellite Beach Police Department. Commander Bert Berrios quickly dismissed it, writing:
“No such violation occurred; therefore, we will not file an incident report or accept statements.”Chief Jeff M. Pearson and Berrios communicated privately on the matter, but no independent review was conducted. For residents, the police department’s refusal to accept statements looked less like impartial enforcement of open government law and more like an effort to protect city leadership.
Ethics Training Ignored
What stung residents even more was the timing. Just one month earlier, on August 8, 2018, the city had conducted a Sunshine Law and ethics training session for officers and employees. By mid-September, however, officials, Barker, Gibson, and others were making decisions that directly contradicted the spirit of that training: limiting access, excluding advocates, and restricting media coverage.
Instead of fostering open dialogue, records suggest the city sought to control the message, keep critics out, and present a managed version of events to the public.
A Troubling Pattern
The September 17 meeting was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of dismissiveness toward residents. Internal communications throughout 2018 show city officials labeling advocates “combative,” “ridiculous,” and “silly.” Public records further reveal attempts to recruit “friends of the city” to speak against contamination concerns at council meetings, echoing talking points crafted behind closed doors.
The exclusion of residents and the denial of media access illustrate how public trust can be eroded when government prioritizes damage control over accountability.
Accountability Still Lacking
To date, no formal legal action has been taken. But the documents leave little doubt about the choices city leaders made: who was allowed in, who was kept out, and how community concerns were characterized internally.
For residents who simply wanted clean water and answers about cancer clusters, the events of September 17 were a stark reminder of what happens when transparency is replaced with secrecy.
Editor’s Note: This report is based on public records, sworn documents, and official correspondence obtained through Florida’s Sunshine Law. Supporting documentation can be accessed via the Satellite Beach Public Records Archive
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