Former Mayor admits to Illegal Meetings

Former mayor
 Bob Bolen

As I sat and listened to other speakers at City Council on November 15th, I was not at all surprised at the overwhelming support for adding two (2) new members to the Fort Worth City Council, effectively making our city a 10 council district city IF the citizens were allowed to vote on this important issue.  However, in the case of every mayor from Bob Bolen forward, the office of mayor has been primarily serving the needs, wants and wishes of the downtown business interests.  Now of course you can add to that, supporting the interests of Chesapeake and any other gas drilling company coming before the council.

While former mayor Bob Bolen's comments about keeping the city council "as is" was not surprising, what hit me like a right cross from Mike Tyson was Mr. Bolen's admission and suggestion that if the city council were any larger it would be difficult for the mayor to reach out to individual council members with what is referred to by the Texas Attorney General's office as "walking quorums."  For those who are unfamiliar with the Texas Open Meetings Act, a walking quorum takes place when a mayor or council member meets with other council members in less than a quorum in order to circumvent the Open Meetings Act requirements that city business be discussed in open meetings. To meet individually with less than a quorum in order to line up votes ahead of a council meeting....IS a "Walking Quorum." 

Former mayor Bolen specifically stated in testimony that in order for the mayor to do the job in Fort Worth they must "deal with council members one at a time" on issues of importance to the city. 

By any definition you choose that is a "Walking Quorum" and it is illegal as hell.  Ever wonder why, when attending a council meeting, it just "seems" like the decision has been made and the votes have been lined up....before the city council meeting even began?  Well according to Bob Bolen, that is because it has!