The City Council met with the lawyer who is representing the city in front of the Securities and Exchange Commission today, despite some council members’ concerns about the private nature of the meeting.
Councilman Brian Maienschein boycotted the closed-door meeting, as he often does, and others sought assurance from attorney John Hartigan and City Attorney Mike Aguirre that a private meeting was appropriate. The council took some heat in the local newspaper about meeting in secret about the SEC’s probe of the city.
“I want to make as much discussion public as possible,” Councilwoman Toni Atkins said.
Aguirre and Hartigan said that making information public about the SEC investigation – or a much-rumored draft settlement – would complicate the city’s chances for a speedy resolution.
The council heard one public speaker before retreating to closed session.
Calls placed to City Attorney’s Office inquiring if officials decisions were made in the private meeting have not been returned. Stay tuned for more.