Gore Charges

(Sallisaw-AP) -- Prosecutors have dismissed misdemeanor charges against two Gore city officials accused of violating the state Open Meeting Act. <br/><br/>Sequoyah County District Attorney Richard Gray

Sunday, May 23rd 2004, 5:16 pm

By: News On 6

(Sallisaw-AP) -- Prosecutors have dismissed misdemeanor charges against two Gore city officials accused of violating the state Open Meeting Act.

Sequoyah County District Attorney Richard Gray says he met with attorneys for the city and worked out a way to resolve the dispute without pursuing criminal charges.

The dispute involved mayor and council member Larry Pack and council member Belinda Madding.

Charges were filed March fourth against Pack for allegedly meeting with two members of the Gore Public Works Authority on September fourth and fifth to discuss the dismissal of an employee outside of an open meeting.

On September eighth, Pack allegedly had another discussion with three public works authority members to discuss the firing of an employee.

The charges against Madding stem from two alleged discussions on August 27th and September fifth with Pack and city council member Steven Taylor about employment matters outside a public meeting.

Pack, Madding and Gray agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and Gray's office will dismiss the charges if the two comply with state laws in the future.