Pasadena Director Settles Suit Over Open Meetings

City Director William M. Paparian has agreed to drop his lawsuit against the city and the other six members of the Board of Directors under terms that give him $10,750 to presumably pay legal expenses but do not resolve the issue of whether the board violated the state’s “open meeting” law.

Paparian filed suit more than a year ago, accusing other board members of violating state law during deliberations over reorganizing city advisory commissions.

The alleged violation occurred when three board members met privately on Dec. 6, 1987, to resolve a controversy over commission appointments and contacted other directors by telephone to solicit their agreement. Paparian contended that the board violated the Brown Act, which requires city governments to conduct their business in public.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge last March refused to issue a writ of mandate sought by Paparian to invalidate the board’s decision on commission appointments. Paparian appealed that decision. The settlement announced last week was reached shortly before the suit was scheduled to go to trial.

All seven directors, including Paparian, signed a joint statement saying that the litigation was being terminated and that they would make no further comment on it.