January 29, 2003

Galveston Park Board of Trustees
by Jim Guidry

The Galveston Park Board of Trustees has spent $648,673.02 thus far on legal fees related to the park board's law suit against the law firm of McLeod, Alexander, Powell and Apffel.

The information was provided on Wednesday in response to one of two open records requests filed by Guidry News Service on January 22, 2003.  The second request, for a list of applicants for the position of acting director of the park board, has not been honored.

Acting Executive Director Lou Muller detailed the legal expenses, which do not include legal fees for litigation with Bettah Beach on issues related to the MAPA lawsuit.

Although Muller agreed immediately to provide the information, he said it took several days to compile it. 

The list of applicants for the executive director's position still has not been provided.

Attorney Carla Cotropia of Mills Shirley Eckel and Bassett, who was retained as park board attorney to replace Dan Vaughn of MAPA, said on Wednesday that she was unfamiliar with provisions of the Texas Open Records Act, which clearly requires that applications for public positions be provided upon request. 

Cotropia said she was confused by a controversial state law that permits school districts to keep secret the names of applicants for the position of superintendent.

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