Freeport resident accuses council members of misconduct; council moves into executive session on Petty lawsuit

A public commenter told the Freeport City Council on Jan. 16 that several officials had been the target of social‑media attacks and that a pattern of public statements and conduct had exposed the city to legal and reputational risk. Shortly after the remarks the council announced it would go into executive session to consult its attorney about a lawsuit filed by Lance Petty.

The comment came during the audience participation portion of the special meeting. Miss Bridal Music said she had reviewed a Facebook video and that "Jerry Cain and George, Matt Morris had been pretty well slandered on Facebook," and that the online posts had named places of business. She invoked the Freeport City Charter and the city's ethics ordinance, saying those rules obligate the council to act when conduct "creates risk, undermines public trust, or damages the city's interest."

Miss Bridal Music listed several claims she said are on the public record, including "multiple lawsuits" alleging breach of contract, nondisclosure violations, defamation, reputational harm, loss of business and wrongful termination, and she named individuals and firms she said were involved. She also singled out "councilman Pena," alleging an arrest for DWI, ongoing short‑term rental ordinance violations, failure to remit hotel occupancy taxes over multiple years and "prior risks related tampering with government documents." Those assertions were presented as allegations by a member of the public and were not adjudicated at the meeting.

"The ethics ordinance does not require criminal convictions to trigger a review," Miss Bridal Music told the council, urging equal application of the law and restoration of public trust. The presiding official called time as the comment concluded.

Earlier in the meeting the presiding official asked Doctor Kelly if there were any matters subsequent to posting; Doctor Kelly replied there were none. Following the public comment period the presiding official announced, "Executive session regarding consultation with attorney and deliberation regarding status update for suit against the city by Jerry Lance Petty," and stated the council was moving into executive session at 6:06 PM. The announcement did not record a vote, findings, or a public decision; the executive session is a closed meeting exception under state law and any action resulting from it would be reported in open session as required by law.

No council response to the specific allegations was recorded in the public portion of the meeting. The meeting transcript provided ends with the presiding official declaring the start of the executive session; no further public proceedings or outcomes appear in the record provided.