Over the past year, as neighbors organized around the Save Mary’s Creek effort, many residents encountered a familiar explanation when attempting to meet with council members: the Texas Open Meetings Act would not permit it.
Some even believed it was unlawful for elected officials to sit down one-on-one with citizens about city business.
A closer examination of the law reveals a different story. The Texas Open Meetings Act, or TOMA, is designed to prevent a quorum of elected officials from deliberating outside of public view. It does not prohibit individual council members from talking directly with residents.
In fact, the Texas Attorney General’s handbook clearly notes that one-on-one conversations are allowed, as long as they are not part of a series of discussions that add up to a quorum.
So why the silence? Some local officials may be overly cautious or follow habit, but the result is the same. Residents often feel excluded from conversations that shape their community. In a town the size of Benbrook, access to council members should feel personal, not off-limits.
The bigger question is about culture. Local government should be a place where listening comes first and residents feel welcomed into the process. After all, Benbrook is built on relationships, and trust is strengthened when leaders take the time to hear concerns directly.
For more on the Texas Open Meetings Act, visit the Office of the Attorney General of Texas.
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