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Resident demands public release of board-misconduct investigation findings, cites legal records request
Summary
Vienna Garza used public comment to press the board for release of records from a board-member misconduct investigation, saying two law firms were paid to investigate and asking trustees to help obtain the Public Information Request (PIR) she filed.
WESLACO, Texas — During the meeting's public-comment period, Vienna Garza of Mercedes pressed the board to release materials related to a prior board-member misconduct investigation and sought help getting the records she said she requested by public information request (PIR).
Garza told trustees she had spoken at earlier meetings and that board members had characterized her comments as false. She urged the district to make the investigation report available to the public: "You hired 2 law firms, paid communities tax dollars for that investigation. So help me get that PIR report so that, you know what, we own them as you stated, and we have the right to know the truth," she said.
Garza alleged one district employee who was demoted years ago had not had a salary adjusted to reflect actual duties and asked the board to investigate that claim; she said she had "plenty of backup" documents. She asked the board to assist with obtaining records and said officials earlier encouraged use of PIRs to secure investigation findings.
The board read the Texas Open Meetings Act guidance on public-comment scope before the comment period and reminded the public that the district may not deliberate on items not on the posted agenda beyond limited actions such as placing an item on a future agenda.
Ending: Trustees did not take substantive action during the meeting on the request; Garza asked staff to help with the PIR she said she submitted in December, and the board verbally acknowledged the request during public comment.
