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Public commenter alleges special meeting was timed to influence litigation and that supervisor recused
Summary
A resident at the Jan. 5 special meeting alleged the meeting was called at short notice to influence a federal court proceeding and said Supervisor Hartman recused herself because of a conflict related to Sable Oil.
Thomas Becker told the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors that the special meeting on Jan. 5 was called at short notice during the New Year’s holiday and asserted the timing was "intended to influence the federal district court." Becker said Supervisor Hartman "recused herself today" and claimed Hartman had known of a conflict of interest involving Sable Oil since Nov. 4.
Becker spoke during closed-session public comment and framed the meeting as improperly timed; the transcript records his allegation but does not show a board response addressing the claim on the public record. The clerk had earlier noted Supervisor Hartman was absent and that Supervisor Nelson was participating from Sacramento; the meeting record shows the board later met in closed session on Sable Offshore litigation and reported no reportable action.
