Conroe residents press council to close charter loophole allowing voting majorities to meet outside open meetings

At a continuation of the City of Conroe workshop meeting, residents urged the City Council to change a provision in the city charter that they said allows a voting majority to meet or deliberate outside of a public meeting.

John Sellers, identified in the record as a resident, told the council that the practice undermines public trust and “sidesteps the Texas Open Meetings Act,” saying, “If a voting majority can meet behind closed doors with no cameras, no minutes, no public notice, then we have not just sidestepped the Texas Open Meetings Act. We've sidestepped the trust that binds governments to its people.”

Sellers said he was not alleging bad intent but called the existing charter language “a loophole” that could become a habit. “Don't let a majority become a totalitarian monarchy,” he said.

Mayor (name on record redacted) responded that he had read press coverage of actions in other Texas cities and said the matter would be researched. “I did meet with the county attorney… We may continue finding out if we have a process issue,” the mayor said, adding the city has a letter with the county attorney and will “get an understanding from DAG” before deciding whether to pursue charter changes.

Councilwoman Porter interrupted during public comment to say she disagreed with the characterization that any improper votes had been taken, saying, “It did not happen. Period.” Several council members and the mayor acknowledged the topic will require further review.

Why it matters: The Texas Open Meetings Act requires public access to deliberations of government bodies; residents said the city charter’s language potentially allows a subset of council members to deliberate in ways that limit that access. The mayor told the council he will pursue legal review and bring findings back to the council for consideration.

No formal motion was made or voted on during the meeting to change the charter. The mayor said staff would seek guidance from the county attorney and other legal counsel, and the council may return to the issue with proposed charter amendments if the legal review indicates a process problem.

The exchange took place during the public comment portion of the council’s continuation of a workshop that the council held the previous day.