Flatonia Seeking AG Ruling To Keep Brunner Details Quiet

The City of Flatonia declined to hand over documents detailing the investigation and subsequent retirement of former City Secretary Melissa Brunner. Instead, the City is asking Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to keep most of the details private.

Flatonia City Manager Sarah Novo placed Brunner on paid suspension on June 14 and began an investigation into allegations that were not disclosed at the time. At a meeting on Aug. 25, the Flaotnia City Council agreed to accept a request from Brunner to retire. In addition, the City paid Brunner a sum equal to three months of her salary. In exchange, Brunner agreed not to bring any claims against the City

The Record filed an open records request on Aug. 26 asking the City for the investigative report and Brunner’s response to the report. Flatonia City Attorney Angela Beck informed the Record last Friday that the City was withholding most of the documents while it asks Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for exemption to disclosure.

The City did provide the first page and a mostly-redacted back page of the report, which, for the first time publicly, names the accusations against Brunner. Those accusations were: 1) unauthorized use or mismanagement of public funds or property, 2) neglect of duty, 3) disruptive behavior which impairs the performance of others, 4) mismanagement of position by action or inaction, 5) insubordination and 6) disregarding procedures required of department heads.

Beck wrote the following in her letter to Paxton asking him to keep the documents private: “It is the City’s position that the documents that have been released are sufficient to serve the public interest in knowing why the City Secretary was investigated and why she chose to retire rather than be fired.”

The Texas Attorney General’s office typically issues a decision 45 days after receiving a request.