Attorney General ruling: Ben Baker, Neosho City Council violated Sunshine Law conducting business by e-mail, text messages

Former Neosho mayor, now State Representative Ben Baker and the City Council's efforts to conduct city business through text messages and e-mails violated Missouri's Sunshine Law and "diminished the amount of governmental transparency in the City of Neosho," according to a review by the Attorney General's office.

The council members during the time of the violations were Jon Stephens, William Doubek, Tom Workman and Carmin Allen.

The results of the attorney general's review were sent to City Attorney Steven A Hays Wednesday.

"We identified many instances where public business was likely discussed between a quorum of council members," Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Walker wrote and cited several examples:

-On September 4, 2018, council members discussed via text messages cutting the cell phone allowances in the city budget

-On the same day, an e-mail discussion concerned the contract for the city manager who was about to be hired

-A September 6, 2018, e-mail discussion once again concerned cell phone allowances.

-The employment agreement for the man who was hired as city manager, Leland Butcher, was discussed by e-mail September 7, 2018.

-A September 11, 2018, a salary change for the assistant city manager was discussed by e-mail.

During two of those conversations, action was taken, which Walker writes were acknowledged by Neosho city officials as Sunshine Law violations.

During one conversation, the start date for Butcher's employment was set, while the other featured a vote and change of the city's cell phone reimbursement policy.

One conversation was stopped by the city attorney who said, "Gentlemen, we need to end this conversation. Technically, this is a meeting and it was not noticed."

The Attorney General's office is requiring all City Council members, the mayor other key city staff to attend one of the Sunshine Law training sessions offered by the Attorney General's Office some time in the next six months.

The original complaints against the city officials were filed with the Attorney General by Rebecca Williams and Heather Bowers.