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Council considers its next move in Merc lawsuit

The Sunnyvale City Council entered into closed session after its meeting last Tuesday to discuss its options--including submitting an appeal--on the judgment made two weeks ago in the Mercury News lawsuit.

Mayor Jim Roberts announced that "direction was given, no action was taken" during the closed-door discussion with city staff, including City Attorney Valerie Armento.

Two weeks ago, a Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge ruled that the City Council was to give documents to the San Jose Mercury News pertaining to eight closed sessions it held in 1995.

Those closed sessions led to the council's ousting of then-Mayor Frances Rowe.

The San Jose Mercury News then sued the city, alleging it had violated the Ralph M. Brown Act for holding the closed meetings that concerned decisions about an elected official.

Mayor Jim Roberts has maintained that the council should have been allowed to conduct its business behind closed doors because the meetings covered personnel disputes--most between Rowe and Armento.

The city now has two weeks to decide whether it will appeal the Superior Court's ruling.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, March 11, 1998.
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