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Open Meetings Act trial for Montgomery County officials, consultant reset for March 27

FOIFT2016-11-03T14:58:24-05:00

Three Montgomery County elected officials and a political consultant facing charges of conspiring to circumvent the Texas Open Meetings Act will have to wait at least five more months to have their day in court. Judge Randy Clapp of Wharton County set March 27, 2017 as the new trial date for Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal, County Commissioners Charlie Riley and Jim Clark and political consultant Marc Davenport. Clapp, a visiting judge, reset the trial date following a conference involving all parties in the case. The trial, originally set to begin Monday, was pushed back in part due to scheduling issues [...]

Open Meetings Act trial for Montgomery County officials, consultant reset for March 27FOIFT2016-11-03T14:58:24-05:00

Montgomery County commissioner proposes digital message board allowed under Open Meetings Act

FOIFT2016-10-28T15:55:53-05:00

By Catherine Dominguez Houston Chronicle Originally published Oct. 24, 2016 Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack is proposing a digital public message board that would allow the commissioners to communicate publicly outside a called meeting. While County Judge Craig Doyal said he sees some benefits, he said he isn't sure all the commissioners would use a digital message board. The court was scheduled to discuss the item at Tuesday's meeting. For Noack, it would help provide more transparency of county business. A quorum of commissioners discussing county business outside a publicly called meeting is prohibited by the Texas Open Meetings Act. In [...]

Montgomery County commissioner proposes digital message board allowed under Open Meetings ActFOIFT2016-10-28T15:55:53-05:00

FOI Foundation offers Nov. 16 Open Government Seminar in Denton

FOIFT2016-11-03T15:00:34-05:00

AUSTIN _ The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas will host an Open Government Seminar in Denton in November featuring training in public meetings and public records laws. The non-profit FOI Foundation, in cooperation with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office and the Mayborn School of Journalism at UNT, will offer the one-day seminar on Wednesday, Nov. 16. It is designed for government employees, journalists, attorneys and members of the general public interested in the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act. “This seminar highlighting Texas’ open government laws helps to inform citizens of their rights and responsibilities as [...]

FOI Foundation offers Nov. 16 Open Government Seminar in DentonFOIFT2016-11-03T15:00:34-05:00

Open Government Champions: Capriglione pushes ahead with transparency agenda in Legislature

FOIFT2016-08-24T16:46:11-05:00

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in an occasional series of opinion pieces on legislators and other Texans who are openly committed to sustaining government transparency and accountability. The articles are being prepared and distributed by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the Texas Press Association. By DAVE MONTGOMERY During the 2015 Texas Legislature, while most other transparency and ethics reform proposals were headed toward the trash heap, Rep. Giovanni Capriglione secured near-unanimous passage of a new law that has enabled the public to see who benefits financially from dealings with the government. His victory in pushing through House Bill [...]

Open Government Champions: Capriglione pushes ahead with transparency agenda in LegislatureFOIFT2016-08-24T16:46:11-05:00

Montgomery County officials indicted on Open Meetings Act charges

FOIFT2016-06-27T22:37:20-05:00

By Jesse Mendoza Community Impact Newspaper Originally published June 25, 2016 Three members of the Montgomery County Commissioners Court were indicted on Texas Open Meetings Act violation charges related to negotiations regarding the county’s road bond election in November. County Judge Craig Doyal, Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Clark were indicted by a Montgomery County grand jury June 25 and have since been released on bond, Doyal’s attorney John Choate said. Political consultant Marc Davenport, who previously worked on campaigns for Doyal and Riley, was indicted as well, special prosecutor Chris Downey said. “Over the course [...]

Montgomery County officials indicted on Open Meetings Act chargesFOIFT2016-06-27T22:37:20-05:00

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