Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The City Council held a special meeting on September 16, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers to address Ethics Complaint EC2026-01 and related personnel matters concerning Council Member Place 4 (Matt Blake). The meeting began with a prayer led by Council Member Roberts. Three members of the public provided comments before the Council entered a nearly three-hour executive session. Following the closed session, the Council reconvened and approved a statement condemning the referenced statements in the complaint and directing Council Member Blake to remove them from his social media.
The Council entered executive session at 6:42 PM and concluded at 9:11 PM. The session was held under Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 (consultation with the city attorney on pending or contemplated litigation) and 551.074 (personnel matters – discussion of a public officer or hearing a complaint against an officer) to discuss Ethics Complaint EC2026-01 and the conduct of Council Member Place 4.
Upon reconvening at 9:14 PM, a motion was made by Council Member Delaney and seconded by Council Member Parks to issue a statement as discussed in executive session. Council Member Goetz read the following statement:
"The Code of Ethics as drafted is not the appropriate vehicle to address the conduct referred to in the complaint regarding Council Member 4. We as a group condemn, in the strongest of terms, the referenced statements in the complaint. Council Member Blake will remove referenced statements from his social media. This is the response to our complaint."
We'll start the meeting that we will. It's okay, we will. Good evening, and welcome to North Richard Hills City special city council meeting. It is 6 30 p.m. and I will call the September 16th, 2026 special city council meeting to order. A quorum of the city council is present, and the meeting has been duly posted in accordance with the Texas Meetings Act of the Texas government code. Before I go to public comments, could I get uh Danny? Uh would you lead us in prayer before we start? Lord, we come before you tonight. Uh we just ask for your blessings on all that's said, all that's done. Um may everything that's done tonight be done according to your will, according to uh the way you would have us do it. Lord, we're grateful for the opportunity that we have to serve. We once again thank you for the wonderful uh people that we have in our police department, our fire department, other first responders, and pray for your continued protection on them. Lead us and guide us in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you. Um now we move to public comments. It's an opportunity for the citizens to address the city council on matters which are scheduled on this agenda for the consideration by the city council, but not scheduled as a public hearing in order to address the city council during the public comments. A public meeting appearance form must be completed and presented to the city secretary prior to the start of the city council meeting. Is anybody signed up? Yes, Mayor, we've got three forms. And as a reminder, for those that have requested to speak during public comments, you've got three minutes to address the mayor and council. And when you approach the podium, if you can please state your name and address for the record. The first person I've got is Karen Martin. Miss Martin, if you'll please approach the podium. Um I am Karen Martin. I live at 5614 West Chase Drive in North Richland Hills. And the first thing I want to state is an obvious thing that we're not any of us perfect, and we all make mistakes. So that's something that we all need to always remember. But however, from here, I'm going to be very honest about how what I have observed and how I feel. I believe there is a good chance that we might not be where we are tonight if this issue had been addressed a couple of years ago or however long it was ago when the council and citizens first witnessed the verbal battles and insinuations between councilman Blake and a former council member. I believe some of that behavior may have been tolerated because in my and in my honesty, many people, including myself, rather enjoyed seeing the former council member challenged so forcefully. But that did not make that behavior right then, and it does not make it right now. Matt, I'm not going to dig into the specific details of the ethics charges that were brought here uh tonight because they were stated very clearly. However, as someone who supported you during both of your campaigns, I do want to express my disappointment over the events that have transpired over the past few months. Your attitude and comments toward people during the ongoing online discussions about AI were shocking to me. At times your words and manner came across as arrogant, rude, and condescending. Far below the level of behavior I would expect from someone serving in three very visible roles a city council member, a businessman, and a man who openly identifies himself as a disciple of Christ. Then when things escalated into another deeply troubling altercation between you and former council member, I was simply stunned. It seems to me that there are at least two important Christian principles at work in this situation: the danger of pride and the principle of sowing and reaping. Matt, from where I sit, I believe you have done a good job in many respects as a member of our city council. I truly do. But I also believe that some poor judgment has overshadowed much of that good work.