Haltom City council member Charlie Roberts, who is up for re-election, will face a public reprimand and will receive a letter admonishing him for violating several provisions of the ethics policy.

The ethics commission, made up of Haltom City residents, recommended Monday night that the council issue a reprimand letter and publicly admonish Roberts from the dais after he was accused of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act.

Mayor Pro Tem Lin Thompson filed the complaint — the only one since the commission was formed — after Roberts was accused of using the reply all option in emails to the council members discussing city business that was not publicly posted on agendas.

Committee chairman Suzanne Norris told the council that during the April 6 hearing, Roberts admitted to violating the open meetings act and that he disclosed information discussed during executive sessions that are closed to the public.

Roberts accused the committee of being biased because the members were appointed by mayor An Truong and requested another hearing with an “impartial” committee.

“All are nominated by the mayor and appointed by the mayor who actively campaigned against me and who actively supported my opponent,” Roberts said.

He said he sent the emails because Truong “cut him off” when he was trying to continue a discussion in executive session and sent another responding to a council decision to recommend certain types of fencing for some business owners and not others.

Truong said he has the right to endorse other candidates, and that the issue was to consider the ethics committee recommendations.

Thompson, who filed the ethics complaint, said council members take an oath to uphold laws and to not violate them.

“Our concern is that you, as an incumbent have become lax in using the reply all option,” she said. “This is very serious and not to be taken lightly.

“When you reply all to all members of the council, you just had a closed meeting. The public is not aware of items being discussed. It could be important or somewhat insignificant, but it could be very dangerous for our city as it could reflect on contracts and cause liability. I’m not willing to risk anything that could involve a lawsuit against our city.”

Thompson went on to say that council members must have integrity and take responsibility for what they do.

Councilwoman Marian Hilliard agreed with Thompson and reminded Roberts that members of the Carroll school board were arrested after they were accused of violating the Open Meetings Act.

“You may not agree with the law, but to openly and frequently violate it is not acceptable,” Hilliard said.

Council member Tiffany Chandler said she was also concerned about the ramifications of Roberts’ actions.

“He has admitted that he violated the open meetings law, no ifs ands or buts,” she said. ”He intentionally sent the email to everybody. It doesn’t matter what the email said.”

Roberts responded to Chandler by saying Monday’s meeting was to consider and accept the ethics committee recommendations.

“It seems like some council members had prepared statements,” he said. “Was there a meeting that went on?”

Chandler said she did not write a prepared statement before the council meeting.