After returning from an executive session on July 15, the Kennedale City Council heard a brief update that an outside attorney from the Houston area has been engaged to conduct interviews as part of an ongoing investigation.
During the meeting's public comment period, resident Sarah Johnson said she was concerned about an item listed in the executive session and urged the council to hold an unnamed council member accountable. "I'm hoping that the council member involved is held to [be] accountable, at least apologize to the members of the city that he's offended," Johnson said during public comments. She also urged the council to adopt new rules limiting people who resign midterm from immediately seeking election again.
The city attorney, speaking after the council reconvened, said the update would be brief. "I have spoken and engaged an attorney outside. He's from the Houston area. He is gonna be reaching out to everybody. I understand he's already reached out to several folks and already conducted some interviews," the city attorney said. The attorney added the outside counsel "will produce a written report once the interview processes are complete" and described the matter as an ongoing investigation.
The council moved into executive session under multiple subdivisions of the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551 (the Open Meetings Act) and later returned to open session; no final disciplinary action or findings were announced in public. The council voted to go into executive session and to adjourn at the end of the meeting; both votes passed unanimously.
No timetable for the outside counsel's written report was provided during the meeting, and the city attorney did not provide further factual details in open session.
What happens next: the outside counsel will continue interviews and prepare a written report; the council has not announced whether that report will be released publicly or how the council plans to act on any findings.