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Council orders independent probe for one ethics complaint, declines another
Summary
Following an executive session, the Farmers Branch council authorized hiring an outside attorney to investigate a June 8 ethics complaint against the District 1 councilmember and voted not to pursue an investigation into a June 9 complaint against the District 2 councilmember.
After convening in executive session on complaints alleging violations of the city code of ethics, the Farmers Branch City Council on June 23 took two separate actions.
On the complaint filed June 8 concerning the District 1 councilmember, a councilmember moved to instruct the city attorney to hire an outside attorney to conduct an independent investigation; the motion was seconded and passed. The motion language instructed the city attorney to proceed with an independent investigation by outside counsel.
On the complaint filed June 9 concerning the District 2 councilmember, the council subsequently considered a separate motion to not pursue an investigation; that motion was seconded and passed. During the vote the mayor and council clarified that an affirmative vote in that motion meant the council was choosing not to move forward with an investigation.
The council discussed abstention rules and noted that for this meeting an abstention meant the member did not cast a vote in either direction. The council did not release additional details about the complaints during open session.
