Missouri AG files lawsuit, claims City of Belle violated open meeting laws
BELLE, Mo. (KMIZ)
A petition filed by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office alleges that the City of Belle violated open meeting laws.
The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday and a summons was issued for the City of Belle on Wednesday. The city must respond within 30 days.
The petition claims the city did not: Post notices of Board of Aldermen public, detail meetings agendas and properly keep meeting minutes. The lawsuit claims this has affected the ability for residents to attend meetings
The lawsuit claims, “Mayor Darryl White has failed to ensure that the Missouri Open Meetings Law has been complied with.”
The city is accused of not providing enough notice for three meetings over the summer. Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office sent a request on June 16 for public records such as meeting notices and tentative agendas. Court documents claim the city did not provide either for its May 31 and June 6 Board of Aldermen meetings, but it had meeting minutes for both.
Court documents also claim notice of those meetings were not posted by the city “that was located on a bulletin board or other prominent place which is easily accessible to the public.” It also claims a third “special meeting” was moved without public notice.
The petition also states meeting minutes were not provided for the March 23, May 11 and May 30 meetings.
The lawsuit also claims that a Board of Aldermen agenda on April 24 had only one agenda item and the Board discussed multiple items, while other meetings allegedly did not have agenda items listed. It also claims a vote by the Board was held in a closed session.
