DICKINSON, Texas – Illegal secrecy tops the list of claims in a lawsuit against the City of Dickinson.
The claims date back years, accusing government officials of not being transparent about information that citizens have the right to know, including land deals and official recordings.
The newly amended lawsuit was first filed about a year and a half ago. Since then, Dolcefino Consulting President, Wayne Dolcefino who filed it says the city has continued to withhold public information- meanwhile the Dickinson mayor, Sean Skipworth says the claims are baseless.
“We are not going to stand illegal secrecy, we’re not going to stand for a lack of transparency,” Dolcefino said.
He says government officials have habitually violated the Open Meetings Act and the Public Information Act by concealing public information.
“There are records detailing payments to consultants that we don’t have. There are records relating to private communications relating to government business…we don’t have,” Dolcefino said.
He says Mayor Skipworth is at the helm of the problems.
“The Mayor of Dickinson is what I describe as a classic example of an arrogant vindictive politician,” Dolcefino said.
Mayor Skipworth, who did not want to go on camera, says Dolcefino has no evidence for any illegal activity and efforts supporting this lawsuit are being funded by people Dolcefino won’t name.
“Breaking news, people hire me to investigate things. Not a secret, doesn’t matter who asked me to do it,” Dolcefino said.
New claims in the amended lawsuit now point the finger at the Dickinson Economic Development Corporation.
“Which is hiding land deals, they’re hiding communications with their consultants. They bought $13 million worth of unused land over the last few years and won’t tell people what they’re doing with it,” Dolcefino said.
Ultimately, Dolcefino says it’s the taxpayers who are being cheated.
“The taxpayers pay for these land deals, the taxpayers are paying these consultants,” he said. “I have found illegalities in every single meeting that they’ve had. We have been fighting to get records from that city for two years.”
Dolcefino says that if government officials were to hand over the public records he’s requesting, there would be no reason to sue. Since he doesn’t see that happening, he says he’s asking for a speedy trial. If the city loses, it will require them to turn over requested records and pay thousands of dollars in legal fees. No trial date has been set yet.