Currently, members of the Claremore City Council are able to meet in sub-quorum groups—gatherings of fewer than a quorum of Councilors—to discuss public matters outside of formally noticed public meetings.
Transparency is not just about legality. It is about trust, accountability, and the public’s right to witness how decisions are formed before votes are taken.
This concern is serious enough that Senate Bill 2161 has been filed in the Oklahoma Legislature to address similar transparency gaps statewide.
Regardless of state action, Claremore has the opportunity—and the responsibility—to lead by adopting stronger local standards for openness.
As the county seat of Rogers County, Claremore sets the tone for governance in the region. What transpires in Claremore has a ripple effect on surrounding communities.
Therefore, we, the undersigned residents of Claremore and Rogers County, call on the Claremore City Council to:
1. End the use of sub-quorum meetings to discuss public business.
Public deliberation should occur only in properly noticed, publicly accessible meetings.
2. Adopt a formal City policy guaranteeing Open Meeting Act-level transparency in all deliberative settings.
Transparency should apply to the substance of discussion, not just the number of officials present.
3. Affirm Claremore’s commitment to both the letter and the spirit of open government.
Residents must be able to observe how decisions are shaped—not just how final votes are cast.
We respectfully urge the Claremore City Council to enact a clear policy ending sub-quorum deliberations and restoring full transparency to city governance.