Frontlines

State road agency keeps proposals secret

AUSTIN — The Texas Transportation Commission, the policy-making body of the Texas Department of Transportation, keeps secret the text of items the commissioners will discuss at monthly meetings.

Documents on new transportation policies are only made public after the commission, which recently expanded to five members, votes on the proposal.

The secretive process came to light after a recent toll-road study the commission approved. Reporters who requested documents before the meeting were denied access and the agency said documents were internal agency memoranda based on staff recommendations only.

Keller school chief resigns amid probe

KELLER — The school board voted 4-3 to accept the resignation of school superintendent Charles Bradberry who was under investigation for possible open records violations.

The Tarrant County district attorney’s office in November launched an investigation into allegations that open record requests the Fort Worth Star-Telegram made were not being met.

Questions surfaced after the district overspent $275,000 for roofing materials  that were recommended by a consultant for a new school. However, the district was unable to produce invoices or documents for the consultant’s work.

Civil service laws supercede open records

AUSTIN — The Attorney General’s Office ruled that civil service laws allow the city to keep confidential an independent report on a fatal shooting of a mentally ill woman by an Austin police officer.

The ruling pointed out that state civil service laws prohibit release of information about an officer’s conduct unless he is disciplined, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

A Travis County grand jury declined to indict the officer and he has not been disciplined.

Monitor sues city over documents’ release

PHARR — The Monitor in November filed a lawsuit against the city alleging in part that officials repeatedly delay response to requests for public documents.

The newspaper sued after a reporter requested documents on city contracts and work done by an architectural firm. The documents later were released but the newspaper is continuing the legal challenge because the city operates under a policy of taking the full 10 days to decide whether to release requested documents, the newspaper reported.

Mayor, council squabble over meetings, residency

COFFEE CITY — Four council members have sued the mayor alleging that she does not live in the city, and the mayor has accused the council of violating the Open Meetings Act by meeting in private to pursue the lawsuit, the Tyler Morning Telegraph reported.

The suit alleges the mayor lived outside the city limits when she was elected in May 2002. She was a council member before becoming mayor and has run for office since 1996, each time with her residency affirmed by the city secretary.