Closed-door political meeting sparks controversy
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BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. — Leaders in Brownsville are embroiled in controversy after they kept the doors closed on a Monday meeting that residents said should have been open to everyone. Mayor Bill Rawls said he understood the concern but that the closed meeting was legal. It concerned a potential lawsuit with the city’s police department, which included personnel matters of promotions and payrolls. “We went into closed session to discuss a threatening lawsuit,” Rawls said. That is all he released regarding the subject of the meeting. Some residents such as Sabrina Bond said it is that privacy that caused her to accuse the board of violating the state’s Sunshine Law. “Change is not going to come because you feel this or think that,” Bond said. “You have to come in together and become one.” The law states any meetings of a governing body must be public and open to the public. Adequate public notice must be given. The minutes of the meetings must be recorded and open to the public. All votes must be public, and secret votes are prohibited. “There was no action taken,” Rawls said. “So, we were very in the legal right, in terms of what we need to do, in terms of having a closed session.” He said the closed meeting was just a proactive step to protect the city against the potential lawsuit.
