OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings
Shawnee Board of City Commissioners Special Call Meeting – March 2, 2026
Board of City Commissioners — Monday, March 2, 2026
BodyShawnee, Oklahoma
SessionBoard of City Commissioners
DateMonday, March 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural50%
Pending Litigation50%
Summary of Proceedings
Shawnee Board of City Commissioners Special Call Meeting – March 2, 2026
The Shawnee Board of City Commissioners held a special call meeting on March 2, 2026, to consider entering executive session to discuss confidential attorney-client communications and to vote on a resolution to retain legal counsel for antitrust litigation regarding firefighting equipment costs. The meeting was convened at 4:30 PM and adjourned at 4:51 PM. A quorum was present, but attendance records contain discrepancies between the minutes and the transcript.
Discussion Items
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Item 1 – Executive Session: The Board voted 5-0 to enter executive session under Oklahoma statute (25 O.S. § 307(B)(4)) to discuss confidential communications with the city attorney concerning a pending investigation, claim, or action. The session lasted from 4:31 PM to 4:49 PM. No votes or decisions were made in open session on this item.
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Item 2 – Resolution to Retain Fulmer Sill: Following executive session, City Attorney Joe Vorndran reported that the city possesses causes of action related to exponential increases in firefighting equipment costs and wait times. He stated that Fulmer Sill, previously retained by the city for similar mass tort litigation, offered to explore these claims with no out-of-pocket expense to the city. A commissioner expressed gratitude to the fire department and stated the motion would help fight their battle to protect citizens. The Board voted 5-0 to approve Resolution No. 6782, authorizing the retention of Fulmer Sill for firefighting equipment antitrust litigation.
Key Outcomes
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Resolution 6782 Approved: The Board unanimously (5-0) approved the resolution to sign and approve the Legal Services Agreement retaining Fulmer Sill to pursue legal claims against manufacturers, distributors, and other third parties regarding firefighting equipment costs and wait times.
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Attendance Discrepancy Note: The official minutes record Commissioners Chris Odneal (Ward 3) and Mark Sehorn (Ward 5) as absent, but both cast “aye” votes on the resolution. The raw transcript contains garbled or mismatched names (e.g., “Overnil,” “Rick Burke”), indicating possible transcription errors. This inconsistency is noted but not resolved in the provided materials.
Meeting Transcript
All right. We'll call the order to get a declaration of reform, please. Matthew? Here. Here. Overnil. Here. Steven. Here. C1? Here. Rick Burke. We have a quorum. Thank you, ma'am. Start out on item number one. Consideration of entering into executive session in accordance with 25 OS 307B4 to discuss confidential communications between a public body and its attorney concerning a pending investigation, claim, or action. If the public body with the epithet with the advice of its attorney determines that disclosure will seriously impair the ability of the public body to process the claim or conduct a pending investigation, litigation, or proceeding in the public interest. Do we have any discussion on this? Can I get a motion? Make a motion on executive session. I'll say a motion and a second. We will take a verbal vote. Stevens. Aye. Matthews? Aye. Aye. Oh no. Aye. Aye. Function three is five zero. We will process to executive session. Okay, we're going to reconvene on the item number two, consideration of a resolution assignment approved. The legal services agreement retaining former sale for the purpose of pursuing several legal claims against manufacturers, distributors, and potentially other third parties regarding an exponential increases in firefighting equipment cost and wait times causing harm to the city of Shawnee and assistance. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commissioners, as discussed in executive session, uh the city possesses causes of action with regard to the claims outlined in the resolution. We've been in communication with former Sill, who was previously represented the city of Shawnee in similar type mass tort litigation, and they're offering the same proposal that they always do, which is no out-of-pocket expense to explore these claims. And at this point in time, um if there's any questions that weren't answered in executive session, I'd be happy to answer them. Otherwise, uh we would ask this commission to entertain a vote on retaining former seal. More questions for Joe? Good. Get a motion, please. Mr. Mayor, with gratitude uh to our fire department and uh to help them fight their battle. Uh to protect citizens, I'll make a motion to approve the resolution.
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