A judge ruled in favor of the Chattanooga Times Free Press in its lawsuit against the city of Chattanooga, council members and staff, establishing that open meetings laws were violated during non-public meetings on redrawing local voting districts.
The Chattanooga City Council must follow Tennessee’s Open Meetings Act and submit to one year of oversight in addition to writing a semi-annual report regarding its compliance, according to the July 3 order granting the newspaper’s motion for summary judgment.
“By holding secretive meetings about the redistricting process, City Council members showed contempt for the people who put them in office,” Times Free Press Editor Alison Gerber said in an email. “We’re grateful for the court’s decision siding with government transparency and public oversight.”
(READ MORE: Chattanooga’s secret redistricting meetings violated open meetings law, judge finds)
Council members Chip Henderson, Jenny Hill, Marvene Noel and Raquetta Dotley did not respond to voicemails left at their respective office lines requesting comment about how the order will affect future operations. The five others listed in the lawsuit no longer serve on the City Council.