VON ORMY, Texas -- Turmoil in the city of Von Ormy continued Wednesday, as the mayor tried to shut down a city council meeting by sending in police.
Small town residents who showed up to the 7 p.m. meeting were greeted by notices at the door of the hall, informing them the gathering was canceled. Mayor Trina Reyes posted a memo on the door saying she had legal authority to cancel the meeting.
However, it went on as scheduled and was lead by one of three city councilwomen the mayor is feuding with, Jacqueline Goede. Reyes was not present and did not respond to multiple attempts to reach her by phone and email.
The city manager, Everett Hernandez, told KENS 5 the meeting was legal.
"Our legal counsel went ahead and did all the research she needed to do through the Texas open meetings act," said Hernandez.
The meeting was interrupted by police marshals who threatened to shut down the meeting. Hernandez said they were sent there by the absent mayor.
"The meeting was supposed to be canceled due to the fire marshal inspection," he said.
Hernandez said the mayor was trying to use the occupancy to shut down the meeting. Ultimately, the marshals found no wrong-doing and left.
Mayor pro tem Jacqueline Goede ran the meeting, taking action on 16 items. She said city business had come to a halt due to the in-fighting between the city council and mayor. Reyes has three days to challenge any action taken in her absence.
"When it comes to the mayor, it's always a push and a shove. It's always not good," said Goede.
Reyes filed a restraining order today against the councilwomen she has been feuding with. No one KENS 5 spoke with expects the city to return to business as usual any time soon.
