Thompson took office in January after running a campaign critical of Ziegler. Since joining the City Council, Thompson has suggested the city manager's post be taken over by the mayor, who is selected by the City Council from among its members. He later suggested lowering Ziegler's salary. He also has targeted the city's police chief. In their recall notice, Thompson's detractors accuse him of conspiring with other City Council members by conducting serial meetings and reaching decisions outside of public City Council meetings.
Serial meetings are when members contact each other privately until a consensus is reached.
These are acts forbidden by the state's open meeting laws and which carry criminal and civil penalties. To obey state law.