Galveston County Commissioners Court today voted 3-2,with Stephen Holmes and Patrick Doyle opposed, to retain the law firm of Mize, Minces & Clark, PC to assist the county in defense of a lawsuit filed by Robert Powell, Brad Bricker and Kirk Greene, who were fired from the Information Technology Department following an investigation into allegations of mismanagement in connection with an investigation of misuse of the county’s email and Internet systems by former IT department employee and former Galveston City Council member Chris Gonzales. Listen

“They voted to hire outside legal counsel for a case that our county attorneys are handling,” Holmes explained after the meeting.

“We didn’t discuss anything about the law firm, so I didn’t know anything about them,” Doyle said, also explaining his vote after the meeting.  “I thought the matter was going to be deferred until we found out whether we could do in-house counsel.”

The commissioners court voted 3-0-2, with Holmes and Doyle abstaining, to approve payment of legal services related to the redistricting issue.

The commissioners court deferred action on realignment of voting precincts within the county commissioner precincts based on maps that were approved by the Department of Justice for the primary elections.  The issue had been discussed in workshop. Listen

In the workshop the commissioners court members, as well as Republican Party Chair Barbara Meeks and Democratic Party Chair Lloyd Criss, agreed by consensus to continue with the previously approved maps for the November election and to work on new maps in January, which will require the permission of the DOJ.

The commissioners court voted unanimously to approve a final submission of the county’s Erosion Response Plan.

“As you know, you authorized the draft, we sent it to the GLO and there were comments,” said County Engineer Mike Fitzgerald.  “John Lee convinced them that all of their comments were already addressed in what we sent them, so they are good with it.”

The commissioners court voted unanimously to approve an interlocal agreement with Fort Bend County for the housing of inmates during periods of evacuation. Listen

“We don’t anticipate using it this year,” said Galveston County Sheriff Freddie Poor.  “We just wanted something in place.”

All other agenda items were approved. All members were present.  Agenda Packet