County Atty: Commissioners Possibly Involved In Illicit Negotiations
EL PASO, TX – The County Attorney believes some members of the Commissioners Court have attempted to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with the El Paso County Sheriffs’ Association on their own.
The funds being allocated for the agreement are the biggest expense on the county budget for fiscal year 2008. The agreement is negotiated every five years between the county and the union, which represents all Sheriffs’ Department employees.
In a letter to the Commissioners Court, County Attorney Rodriguez reveals that one or two members of the court have attempted to negotiate the multi-million dollar contract behind closed doors. Negotiations include any discussions of any terms theunion wants from the county and any terms the county is willing to offer the union,saidRodriguez.
“I advice you that you may not, individually or in any number less than quorum, permit any contact or discussions with any members of the union, their representatives, agents or attorneys outside a posted public negotiation or Commissioners Court meeting until the negotiations are complete,” stated Rodriguez in the letter.
The letter specifically mentionsCounty Judge Anthony Cobos. Itstates Cobos told Assistant County Attorney Holly Lytle he wanted to meet personally with the Sheriffs’ Association.
Cobos tells ABC-7 he is attempting to maintain a level of trust and rapport with members of the union. “Effective negotiations are based on trust…that should be the foundation of any negotiation,” he said, ” that was my goal and intent when I announced it was my desire to meet with union members.”
“We would prefer if he would not have done that, but, what are you going to do,” said County Commissioner Dan Haggerty, who is sitting in on the contract negotiation meetings.
Haggerty said he would be concerned if what the letter implicates turns out to be true. However, he feels the allegations are not based on solid facts and evidence. “This is all about a he said, she said thing. Nothing critical has happened yet,” he said.
Negotiations are set to continue Thursday morning at the Judge’s Chambers andwill beopen to the general public.
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Written and reported for broadcast by Stephanie Valle
Written for the web by Joe Villasana
