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Public urges League City council to investigate alleged misconduct; council votes to excuse absent member
Summary
At the Jan. 28 League City City Council meeting, two residents urged the council to investigate alleged misuse of office by a council member. Later the council voted to excuse Councilman Justin Hicks's absences from two January meetings; the motion passed with one dissenting vote.
At its Jan. 28 meeting, the League City City Council heard public criticism from residents who called for investigation and accountability after news reports alleging a council member used his position in a personal matter. The council later voted to excuse the January 14 work session and regular-meeting absences of Councilman Justin Hicks.
Marika Fuller, identifying herself as a resident of 2920 Marlin Court, addressed the council during the public-comment period and said, "Public office is a position of trust, a place where elected officials are expected to serve the public with honesty, transparency, and fairness." Fuller asked the council to investigate what she described as misuse of official authority in a personal dispute.
Another resident, David Smith of 2005 Morning Tide Lane, urged Hicks to resign and accused the council member of using city resources for private benefit: "He used a public resource, city attorneys in this case, to cover up a police report to benefit himself on a personal matter," Smith said.
Council members debated whether to excuse Hicks' earlier absences. City staff told the council that Hicks had reported a medical issue as the reason for the missed Jan. 14 meetings. Councilman Chad Tresler said he was not satisfied with the documentation provided and opposed excusing the absences on that basis. The motion to excuse the absences passed with six votes in favor and Tresler opposed.
Mayor Nick Long also responded to the public comments later in the meeting, saying staff had compiled a report documenting procedures followed by the city on the matter and that the report would be released so citizens and the press could review it. Long said the report was intended to "show your work" and give the public an opportunity to scrutinize whether procedures were followed.
The council did not take further disciplinary action at the meeting. No formal investigation outcome was announced; the council's vote at this meeting related only to excusing Hicks' absences from the Jan. 14 meetings.
A copy of the city charter was referenced by councilmembers during deliberations as the basis for permitting the council to excuse absences; the transcript did not provide a charter section number or text.
Votes at a glance
- Excuse absence of Councilman Justin Hicks (Jan. 14 work session and regular meeting): Motion to excuse passed 6-1 (Chad Tresler opposed). Other details: councilmembers discussed a staff-provided note that Hicks had a medical issue; council did not receive additional documentation at the meeting.
Next steps
Mayor Long said the procedural report assembled by staff would be released in the following days so members of the council, press and public could review the timeline and actions taken by city staff.
