Bill Aleshire

San Antonio council’s closed-door meeting on GOP convention a ‘blatant mistake’

FOIFT2018-05-08T14:14:03-05:00

By Brian Chasnoff San Antonio Express-News Originally published May 8, 2018 San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg opted last week to convene the City Council behind closed doors to discuss whether the city should submit a bid to host the 2020 Republican National Convention. Made in private, the council’s controversial decision not to pursue the event likely violated the Texas Open Meetings Act — regardless of whether the council arrived at that decision by vote, experts said. “Wow. That’s a pretty blatant mistake,” said Bill Aleshire, an Austin-based attorney whose law practice is focused on government transparency and accountability. Read the full [...]

San Antonio council’s closed-door meeting on GOP convention a ‘blatant mistake’FOIFT2018-05-08T14:14:03-05:00

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

Lake Austin group sues city over open meetings

FOIFT2017-06-13T15:58:31-05:00

By Jo Clifton Austin Monitor Originally published June 6, 2017 A group of Lake Austin homeowners on Monday sued the city of Austin, claiming that the city’s notice concerning the zoning and waiver of environmental regulations on what is known as the Champion tract, was inadequate and therefore violated the Texas Open Meetings Act. According to the lawsuit filed by the Lake Austin Collective Inc., when City Council approved new zoning for the tract on City Park Road on Nov. 10, the notice failed to mention that it would also be approving waivers of environmental regulations as well as the Hill [...]

Lake Austin group sues city over open meetingsFOIFT2017-06-13T15:58:31-05:00

State water conference raises open meetings questions

FOIFT2017-01-24T14:00:14-06:00

By Jo Clifton Austin Monitor Originally published Jan. 24, 2017 An attorney for the nonprofit League of Independent Voters of Texas warned the Texas Water Development Board on Sunday that the agency was in jeopardy of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act. However, by the end of the day Monday, it appeared that the agency and the nonprofit had reached an accommodation. The board is sponsoring a conference about water issues called Water for Texas 2017, with members of the agency’s three-member board of directors as well as movers and shakers in state government, like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas [...]

State water conference raises open meetings questionsFOIFT2017-01-24T14:00:14-06:00

Victoria County pays $105,000 for open records advice

FOIFT2016-09-26T15:07:51-05:00

By Jessica Priest Victoria Advocate Originally published Sept. 24, 2016 Victoria County paid an outside law firm about $105,000 over four years to answer open records requests. In 2015 alone, after several sheriff's office employees were investigated for wrongdoing, the county paid more than $77,000. The county made the payments to the Austin-based Allison, Bass and Magee law firm even though the elected district attorney has offered to answer the open records requests faster and for no outside cost. The sheriff's office wrote in a statement that it wants the DA's office "to remain focused on fighting crime by prosecuting the [...]

Victoria County pays $105,000 for open records adviceFOIFT2016-09-26T15:07:51-05:00

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