During a recent government meeting, Councilman Carlucci announced his abstention from a vote concerning a $120,000 annual contract due to a potential conflict of interest, as he is affiliated with the Carlucci Agency, LLC, which insures Mr. Jeter. Following this, the council voted on the contract, resulting in a tie of two to two, leading to its failure.

In response, a motion was introduced for a revised contract of $115,000 per year, aimed at covering motions to dismiss improperly filed lawsuits. The council debated the procedural appropriateness of the chair making a motion, ultimately allowing it to proceed. The motion was seconded and passed with a vote of three to one, despite Carlucci's continued abstention.

Mr. Jeter, who has served as the attorney for the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) for nearly 35 years, expressed gratitude for his role and clarified that the VAB is mandated by Florida law to appoint private counsel. He emphasized that the volume of work for the VAB has significantly increased since 2019, necessitating the proposed salary adjustment. Jeter noted that the VAB had previously passed a resolution addressing the need for additional funding to compensate special magistrates, who are paid hourly based on the number of petitions they handle.

The meeting underscored the complexities of local governance, particularly regarding ethical considerations and the financial implications of legal services in response to rising demands.