CULLEN, La. - Residents who showed up on Monday night for Cullen's regularly scheduled Town Council meeting were met with locked doors at the Municipal Town Hall since Mayor Terry Hoof cancelled the meeting.
Some citizens hoped to learn more about the town's financial situation and agenda items that included proposed increases to water and sewer rates.
KTBS 3's Madison Edwards arrived during the town's normal operating hours and found no one was answering the front door, and no agenda was posted.
Under Louisiana's Open Meetings Law, public bodies are required to post an agenda 24 hours before a meeting.
Several residents, members of the Town Council and Mayor Pro Tem Floydean White gathered outside before the meeting was set to start, but Mayor Terry Hoof did not appear.
White said she was not informed about the meeting's status.
"I'm not informed about when the next meeting is or about why this one was called off. This isn't normal, but it has been happening this year," said White.
When white was questioned on if there is anything citizens should know about the state of Cullen
"Just a lot. That's all I got to say. A lot," said White.
The cancelled meeting comes as Cullen faces increasing pressure to answer questions about its finances.
A state audit is in progress where investigators have so far found over $100,000 in public funds had been misappropriated. The town's police department has been without fuel for patrol vehicles for months.
Residents turned to the few members of the Town Council, but Alderwoman Barbara Green said she was also uncertain as to why the meeting was cancelled.
"We were supposed to have our council meeting tonight, and I'm not sure why we're not, because the clerk has told several citizens the meeting is going to happen. I looked at our website, and it said we were having our meeting. I contacted the mayor, but he sent a text saying it wasn't happening. But the website said yes. Well, the citizens are out here, so I'm out here," said Green.
Green said she does not know whether the Town Council will call a special meeting before its next scheduled meeting in August.
Residents said their concerns extend beyond one canceled meeting, pointing to what they describe as a lack of transparency, unanswered questions and growing concerns about how the town is being managed.