Attorney general requests information on Fulnecky meeting

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster’s office last week issued a letter to Springfield City Council requesting information related to a closed meeting to discuss Councilwoman Kristi Fulnecky’s eligibility to serve on the governing body.

The Dec. 15 letter cites an unnamed informant who alleges council violated Missouri’s Sunshine Law.

“The complainant is concerned that the council members may have met outside of publicly noticed meetings to discuss, and act on, public business,” the letter reads.

Further, the informant alleges council may not have properly posted a meeting notice 24 hours in advance of the meeting held on Nov. 24 and that Fulnecky had not been appropriately informed.

“Please provide our office with a response to these complaints along with copies of all meeting notices, agendas and minutes for all meetings held from June 2015 through November 2015,” the letter reads. “We hope to receive this information as soon as possible, but in no event later than Jan. 7, 2016.”

Last month, council members held a meeting with an attorney hired to represent the mayor and five council members who have questioned Fulnecky’s eligibility to serve on council in the wake of news she did not obtain a business license and pay the required fees for her construction management firm, Fulnecky Enterprises LLC

Fulnecky - who has paid three years of back fees, the most allowed under city charter - contended she did not know she needed to pay business licensing fees because she is an attorney. However, Fulnecky Enterprises is not a law firm.

Council confirmed its appointment of a hearing examiner to research Fulnecky’s eligibility at its Dec. 14 meeting.