DeSoto council meets in closed session on ethics training and city manager personnel

The DeSoto City Council convened a special meeting on Friday, July 17 and moved into executive session at 9:33 a.m. Mayor Rachel Procter opened the meeting and asked the city secretary to read the agenda item announcing two closed sessions.

“The city council will convene into executive session pursuant to Texas government code section 551.0712 for the purposes of the city attorney providing legal advice as it relates to ethics training,” the city secretary read during roll call. Immediately afterward the secretary announced a second executive session under Texas Government Code §551.074 for personnel matters concerning “the appointment, employment, and duties of the city manager and interim city manager.”

The council recessed to the closed sessions to hear legal advice and to consider personnel matters. The council reconvened at 2:04 p.m., and Mayor Procter stated, “There is no action as a result of our executive session.” No motions or votes on personnel or policy changes were reported during the public portion of the meeting.

Because state law limits public disclosure for attorney-client and personnel deliberations in executive session, the council provided no additional particulars about the legal advice given or any personnel deliberations. The council did not announce next steps or a timeline for follow-up during the meeting.