TAFT, Tx — City Manager Ryan Smith filed a lawsuit Monday against Mayor Elida Castillo and three council members, seeking an emergency court order to block what he calls unlawful council actions.

Smith accuses the officials of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act at an improperly noticed November 14 meeting and interfering with his authority to manage city operations.

The lawsuit, filed in San Patricio County's 343rd District Court, alleges that after a properly posted November 14 meeting ended, council members stayed behind and conducted city business without public notice.

Ward 2 Alderman Alonzo Molina Jr. submitted an affidavit describing how council members told a water department employee he could "bypass the city manager" and contact them directly with concerns. When the employee

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