Pocola trustees accused of violating Open Meetings law

POTEAU, Okla. (AP) -- Three members of the Pocola Board of Trustees are accused of violating the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act.<br/><br/>LeFlore County prosecutors file the misdemeanor charges against trustees

Monday, February 14th 2005, 1:04 pm

By: News On 6

POTEAU, Okla. (AP) -- Three members of the Pocola Board of Trustees are accused of violating the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act.

LeFlore County prosecutors file the misdemeanor charges against trustees Bradley Myers, Robert Poole and Buddy Williams. The three are free on their own recognizance.

They're accused of meeting privately and signing a letter asking Pocola City Attorney Ron Lawson to resign.

Court records indicate town Trustee Donna Williams contacted police after learning of the letter.

The court documents say Poole and Myers told police they were contacted separately by Buddy Williams and asked to sign the letter.

An attorney general's opinion says a member of a governing body can not meet separately with other members to take action that otherwise must be voted on during an open meeting.

If convicted, the three face up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.