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Records reveal drama, disguises in Austin city manager search

FOIFT2017-12-08T15:17:00-06:00

By Philip Jankowski Austin American-Statesman Originally published Dec. 6, 2017 To dodge reporters, consultants suggested the finalists to be Austin’s next city manager don wigs, pretend to be tourists or possibly even wear Halloween masks after American-Statesman reporters managed to identify several candidates during the city’s top-secret search for its next leader. That was one of many details revealed in more than 400 pages of communications the city provided in response to a request under the Texas Public Information Act made within hours of officials making the legally murky decision to secretly change the location of a second round of interviewsconducted Nov. [...]

Records reveal drama, disguises in Austin city manager searchFOIFT2017-12-08T15:17:00-06:00

George P. Bush grilled on Alamo transparency

FOIFT2017-12-06T15:59:22-06:00

By Scott Huddleston San Antonio Express-News Originally published Dec. 5, 2018 State legislators quizzed Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush about the Alamo and a long-range master plan, and asked him to look for ways to provide more transparency in the management of the historic mission and battle site. “We need to get it more simple, and clearer,” Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, said at the conclusion of an hourlong exchange Tuesday between Bush and the Senate Finance Committee, which Nelson chairs. Committee members said they would like to see better access to meetings of the nonprofit contractors that run the [...]

George P. Bush grilled on Alamo transparencyFOIFT2017-12-06T15:59:22-06:00

Judge voids Austin’s approval of development, citing Open Meetings Act violation

FOIFT2017-11-22T16:25:11-06:00

By Elizabeth Findell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Nov. 21, 2019 Austin city leaders did not give the public a proper heads-up about their intentions before voting to waive environmental regulations for a controversial housing development, a judge ruled Tuesday. The ruling marks the second time in just over a year that the city of Austin has been found to have violated the Texas Open Meetings Act in approving a development plan. Both suits came from former Travis County Judge Bill Aleshire, an open government attorney. In yet another Open Meetings Act case, the American-Statesman is suing the city alleging violations during [...]

Judge voids Austin’s approval of development, citing Open Meetings Act violationFOIFT2017-11-22T16:25:11-06:00

Reversing course, Austin council to reveal city manager finalists

FOIFT2017-11-10T15:19:09-06:00

By Elizabeth Findell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Nov. 9, 2017 Austin City Council members will reverse course on their secret search for a city manager and release up to five finalists’ names in the next few days, a week after the American-Statesman staked out candidate interviews and sued the city over refusing to release records on the search. Stephen Newton, a representative of search firm Russell Reynolds, told the council Thursday that he recommended making the finalists’ names public — a departure from his previous advice, and from a decision the council made in March to keep the process confidential until [...]

Reversing course, Austin council to reveal city manager finalistsFOIFT2017-11-10T15:19:09-06:00

Texas Railroad Commission chief’s ouster raises open meetings question

FOIFT2017-09-20T20:25:21-05:00

By Mike Lee E&E News Originally published Sept. 20, 2017 The head of Texas' oil and gas regulator resigned this week under pressure from one of the elected officials she reports to, touching off a dispute over whether her dismissal had been properly handled. Kim Corley, who has been executive director of the Texas Railroad Commission since last year, said she was abruptly summoned Monday to commission Chairwoman Christi Craddick's office. Craddick, accompanied by two of the commission's lawyers, told her she could resign or the agency would begin the process of firing her, Corley said in an interview. "She said, [...]

Texas Railroad Commission chief’s ouster raises open meetings questionFOIFT2017-09-20T20:25:21-05:00

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