Special Committee Meeting
Draft
January 21, 2026
Call to Order by Chairman Sead Bekric
- Meeting called to order at 3:00 p.m. EST.
- Quorum confirmed.
- Chair reviewed meeting procedures (muting, raising hands, decorum).
Roll Call – Sead Bekric
Committee Members Present (by District):
- District 1: Mike Sumler
- District 2: Patrick Martin
- District 3: Jim Gaudette
- District 4: Darryl Brinton
- District 5: David Stevens
- District 6: Phil Hubbard
- District 7: Jose Quintanilla
- District 8: Jim Warth
- District 9: Mike McCrea
- District 10: Antonio Gonzalez
Agency / Staff Present:
- Alan Risk, Bureau Chief
- Maureen Fink
- John Ahler
- Dario Turnquest
- Andrea Mendez
- Mary Ellen Harding
Agenda
- Agenda adopted without objection.
Business Item: Electronic Voting Procedures
Discussion and approval of electronic/phone voting procedures for the upcoming Vice Chair election.
Key Points:
- Article 8, Bylaws reviewed confirming electronic meetings and voting are permitted.
- Voting to be conducted via:
- Secure electronic ballot (email) with unique secret identifiers
- Phone-in option for vendors without internet access
- Secret ballot integrity confirmed:
- No retention of records linking voters to votes
- Only vote tallies are retained by the agency
- District Representatives emphasized responsibility to contact members lacking email access.
- Mail-in ballots were discussed but discouraged due to USPS delays and bylaw timelines.
Motions and Votes
Motion 1: Adopt Electronic Voting Procedures
- Motion made by: Jim Warth
- Seconded by: Darryl Britton
- Amendment: Results to be read by Compliance Officer (not Chair)
- Amendment moved, seconded, and approved
- Vote:
- Unanimous approval (11–0)
Amendment: Runoff Election Timeline
- In the event no candidate receives a majority (more than half):
- A runoff election will be held one week later
Election Timeline Confirmed
- Nominations: January 28, 2026
- Election / Voting: January 29, 2026
- Runoff (if required): One week following election date
Vote:
Mike Sumler – Yes
Patrick Martin – Yes
Jim Gaudette – Yes
Darryl Brinton – Yes
David Stevens – Yes
Phil Hubbard – Yes
Jose Quinntanilla – Yes
Jim Warth – Yes
Mike McCrea – Yes
Antonio Gonzalez – Yes
Motion Carried.
Action Items
- Mary Ellen Harding / Agency
- Finalize electronic voting setup
- Distribute secret voting identifiers
- Provide phone-in voting support
- District Representatives
- Contact vendors lacking email access
- Ensure vendors understand voting procedures and timelines
- Committee
- Conduct nominations (Jan 28)
- Conduct election (Jan 29)
- Prepare for possible runoff
Standing Subcommittee Appointments – Chair Sead Bekric and Committee
Training, Retraining & Upward Mobility
- Chair: Patrick Martin
- Members: Darryl Britton, Phil Hubbard
Transfer & Promotion
- Chair: Darryl Britton
- Members: Natasha Ginarte, Jose Quintanilla, Antonio Gonzalez
Grievance Subcommittee
- Chair: Phil Hubbard
- Members: Mike McCrea, Orlando Ramirez
- Note: Alton Palmore rescinded due to existing Grievance Board role.
Public Relations
- Chair: Jose Quintanilla
- Members: Alton Palmore, Antonio Gonzalez
Policies & Procedures
- Chair: Jim Warth
- Members: Patrick Martin, Colton Knight, William Grignon
Budget, Audit & Finance
- Chair: David Stevens
- Members: Kurt Ponchak, Jim Warth, Jose Quintanilla
All committee appointments approved without objection.
Multi-State Arbitration Letter to be forwarded by the Committee Leadership
- Workgroup presented draft letter to Department of Education Commissioner.
- Purpose: Advocate for BEP vendor considerations regarding military opportunities.
- Motion: Send letter as written
- Moved by: Jim Warth
- Seconded by: Jose Quintanilla, Phil Hubbard
- Vote: Unanimous approval
Vote:
Mike Sumler – Yes
Patrick Martin – Yes
Jim Gaudette – Yes
Darryl Brinton – Yes
David Stevens – Yes
Phil Hubbard – Yes
Jose Quinntanilla – Yes
Jim Warth – Yes
Mike McCrea – Yes
Antonio Gonzalez – Yes
Motion carried.
Travel Reimbursement Policy
Department of Education Compliance Office proposed travel reimbursement caps:
- $350 for ground transportation
- $550 for airfare
Chair objected to caps due to negative impact on vendor participation, particularly for rural and distant regions.
Chair proposed an alternate policy removing caps; agency leadership reviewed and approved the policy framework.
Discussion Highlights:
Chair
- Explained rationale for opposing caps.
- Stated proposed policy aligns with Florida Statutes and emphasizes “most economical means” rather than fixed caps.
- Confirmed policy approved by Mitchell Clark (agency).
Jose Quintanilla
- Sought clarification that revised policy removes caps while requiring economical travel.
Alan Risk
- Clarified reimbursement is optional and itemized.
- Confirmed oversight remains with the state, not the committee.
- Explained statutory requirements mandate reasonable and economical travel with allowable exceptions.
- Acknowledged reimbursement delays and cited statutory timeline (~44 days).
Kurt Ponchak
- Explained statutory framework (Florida Statutes Chapters 112 and 216).
- Clarified reasonable accommodations must follow ADA processes.
- Emphasized “economical” does not equate to “cheapest at all costs.”
Committee Discussion
- Concerns raised regarding:
- Ambiguity of “economical” travel
- ADA considerations for blind vendors
- Redundancy with existing state policy
- Inclusion of disciplinary language
- Chair clarified original compliance guidance introduced caps, prompting committee response.
Amendment Motion
Motion: Remove all disciplinary language from the travel reimbursement policy
- Moved by: Phil Hubbard
- Seconded by: Patrick Martin
Vote:
Mike Sumler – Yes
Patrick Martin – Yes
Jim Gaudette – No
Darryl Brinton – Yes
David Stevens – Yes
Phil Hubbard – Yes
Jose Quinntanilla – Yes
Jim Warth – Yes
Mike McCrea – Yes
Antonio Gonzalez – Yes
Final Motion
Motion: Adopt the travel reimbursement policy as amended (caps removed, disciplinary language excluded)
- Vote Result: Passed 10–1
- One dissenting vote recorded (District 3)
Additional Discussion
- Clarification requested regarding prior correspondence sent by the Chair to the agency.
- Chair confirmed:
- Letter was sent in response to compliance guidance.
- All committee members were copied.
- Actions taken were consistent with Chair responsibilities.
Action Items
- Chair
- Forward the approved multi-state arbitration letter to the Commissioner
- Due: Before next meeting
- Agency / Committee
- Distribute and communicate the updated travel reimbursement policy to vendors
- Due: Before next meeting
- Agency
- Continue follow-up on outstanding travel reimbursements
- Due: Ongoing; update by next meeting
Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn:
- Moved by: Jim Warth
- Seconded by: Darryl Brinton
Outcome: Approved
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