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Board votes to indemnify Trustee Romo after hours of public comment
Summary
After extended public comment both opposing and supporting the move, the Sunol Glen Unified board approved a resolution to indemnify Trustee Peter (Ted) Romo for legal defense costs arising from a State Bar complaint and related public-records matters.
The Sunol Glen Unified School District board voted to adopt Resolution No. 252026-23 to indemnify Trustee Peter (Ted) Romo for legal defense costs tied to a State Bar complaint and associated public-records activity. The action followed more than an hour of public comment in which residents urged both for and against using district funds for indemnification.
Multiple speakers urged the board to scrutinize the expense before approving it. Ryan Jurgensen, who led complaints in the prior cycle, told the trustees: "If you're gonna send the money, make sure you've asked the questions to determine, is it in the best interest of the district?" He requested disclosure of the amounts, counsel and the findings before the board decided to use public funds. Several other speakers, including former and current residents, recounted past governance disputes and expressed concern about legal fees drawn from the district budget.
Trustees framed the vote as a governance decision about whether the district protects volunteer trustees acting within their official duties. The board president explained the rationale for the resolution: "Indemnification, therefore, becomes an umbrella of protection for us working within the interest of the district," and the board determined that the incidents in question arose from Romo's role as a trustee. The motion to indemnify carried after discussion.
Supporters argued indemnification is necessary to ensure residents are willing to serve. Opponents said the district has limited funds and asked for full transparency about prior legal costs before the board commits additional public dollars. The resolution text ties indemnification to conduct "within the scope of his responsibilities as a district trustee," and the board directed staff to record and follow established procedures for such actions.
The board did not publish a line-item vote tally in the public record during the meeting; the resolution language and public comments were entered into the minutes. The district indicated the matter is governed by government-code provisions that permit indemnification for officials acting in good faith in their official capacities.
