Alderman Micki Ball Hides Public Information

On March 7, 2015, Alderman Micki Ball met with citizens at the WPPOA clubhouse in a City Council sponsored meeting.

Alderman Ball was directly asked what the City Attorney, Art Martinez de Vara, was being paid.  Her reply was

That was discussed in executive session and by law I can’t reveal that.

According to Section 552.022 of the Texas Public Information Act, what Martinez de Vara is being payed is a matter of public record.

Sec. 552.022. CATEGORIES OF PUBLIC INFORMATION; EXAMPLES.
(a) Without limiting the amount or kind of information that is public information under this chapter, the following categories of information are public information and not excepted from required disclosure unless made confidential under this chapter or other law:

(2) the name, sex, ethnicity, salary, title, and dates of employment of each employee and officer of a governmental body;

(3) information in an account, voucher, or contract relating to the receipt or expenditure of public or other funds by a governmental body;

When it was argued that certain subjects can be talked about even if they were discussed in a closed executive session, Alderman Ball replied

It is illegal to reveal anything discussed in executive session.

In 2014 when Governor of Texas Greg Abbott was only the Attorney General of Texas, he produced the 2014 Open Meetings Handbook.  Page 68 states:

The Mere fact that a document was discussed in an executive session does not make it confidential under the Public Information Act.

In the discussion over the ability to share information, Alderman Ball continued to say

I have a certificate for my Texas Open Meetings Law… What was discussed in executive session I cannot reveal.  That is a true fact.

Click here to view the video that Ball was required to watch to get her certificate of training in TOMA.

When Alderman Ball was asked to show the reference in the law showing what she believed kept her from sharing information, she refused and said people should do their own research.

In the last 7 months the City Council of Sandy Oaks has never released, announced, or shown what Art Martinez de Vara is being payed as City Attorney with public funds.