Controversy taxes Burnet City Council

By CHRIS PORTER • Daily Tribune Staff

BURNET - The mood remained tense Tuesday at a City Council meeting where Mayor Alan Smith told a packed room that state and local authorities are evaluating his claim three councilmen violated the Open Meetings Act.

The three councilmen - James Ritter, Ken Graham and Bill Flynn - maintain they did no wrong during a discussion about the fate of of City Manager Mike Steele.

Smith said he was unsure how much longer the controversy would continue, adding state and local investigators are evaluating the case for a possible investigation.

“It’s out of my hands,” he said. “I really don’t want to drag it on any further in public. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing.”

Graham expressed his belief that the controversy diverted council attention away from city business.

“I think we’ve forgotten why we are here,” he said. “That’s to provide better service to our citizens at lower cost. We’ve got to get back to the point where we’re working on city issues.”

According to Smith, the three met with him privately in September to ask him to force Steele to resign.

“You can believe me or not believe me, but it happened,” Smith said Tuesday. “I was there.”

Ritter disagreed with Smith’s version of events.

“When this episode began, we had some questions of the city manager,” he said. “We asked the mayor to set up a meeting to discuss that issue. It should have ended right there. It did not.”

Ritter, along with Graham and Flynn, said they never asked Smith to fire Steele.

“Mr. Flynn, Mr. Graham and myself never met together as a group. There was only one three-way phone call, and that was myself, Mr. Flynn and the mayor,” he said. “We also have a letter from the city attorney saying that there was no violation of the Open Meetings Act.”

Ritter said state law prohibits council mayors - including a city mayor - from firing city employees.

“I don’t know why we’d ask him to do something that he can’t, as mayor, do,” Ritter said. “It takes five votes on the council to fire a city employee.”

Smith reversed his earlier promise from Sept. 25 to call for a council vote recommending the three resign, saying it was not his wish to divide the council further.

Councilwoman Linda Turner said she hoped for a quick end to the fracas.

“I think we need to get back to the business of the city,” she told Smith.

“I think we’re doing that,” Smith replied.

“Under stress,” Turner said.

The next council meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13 in council chambers, 2402 S. Water St.

chris@thepicayune.com

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Controversy taxes Burnet City Council