Fate of City Secretary to Be Decided This Week

The Flatonia City Council is scheduled to make a decision at a meeting this Tuesday, Aug. 25, regarding the employment of City Secretary Melissa Brunner.

City Manager Sarah Novo, who was hired by the Flatonia City Council on March 11, placed Brunner on paid suspension for undisclosed reasons on June 16, The City Council confirmed Novo’s decision in a special meeting held on June 23. At that same June 23 meeting, the Council met behind closed doors to discuss a $171,582.09 credit from LCRA that was paid to the City last year. At the time, Novo said the discussion was about where the money went, but she declined to say whether Brunner’s suspension was related to the LCRA credit.

The agenda for this Tuesday’s meeting includes three items regarding Brunner’s suspension. First, the Council will hear a review of the City Manager’s investigation of the City Secretary, along with a response from the City Secretary. Next, the Council will hear a recommendation from the City Manager about the “continued employment of Melissa Brunner as City Secretary.” Those two items are scheduled to take place in an executive session, although state law gives city employees the right to demand such items be heard in open session. Finally, the Council will consider and take action in open session regarding Brunner’s continued employment.

Look for a story in Friday’s paper about the outcome of this meeting.