The NRA faced scrutiny Friday over transparency concerns, discussing COO Travis Pruski’s allegations behind closed doors days after bond placed on ‘credit watch’

ROBSTOWN, Texas — The board of the Nueces River Authority met Friday morning in Robstown, where members entered a nearly three-hour executive session to discuss allegations made by the agency’s chief operating officer.

RELATED: Former Nueces River Authority employee arrested, accused of tampering with water records

According to the meeting agenda, board members discussed possible disciplinary action connected to allegations made by COO Travis Pruski. Among other claims, Pruski has alleged the authority misrepresented how much water had already been pre-sold for the proposed Harbor Island desalination project and said he was shut out of budgetary decisions despite that being apart of his role. 

No action was announced publicly after the closed-door session concluded.

“No actions or votes were taken nor decisions made while the board was in exec session, we will now continue with the regular meeting,” NRA President Eric Burnett said following the session.

The authority has faced mounting scrutiny in recent weeks. Former NRA employee Marisa Juarez was recently charged with tampering with government records, a state jail felony, after investigators said she collected water samples without proper certification.

Friday’s meeting also included criticism from residents over transparency concerns involving the authority’s committee meetings.

“You have not posted any meetings of executive committee or finance committee meetings in the last two years that I’ve been coming here,” Port Aransas resident Cathy Fulton told the board. “Y’all may be having these meetings but you’re supposed to be posting an agenda — it’s supposed to be on the door.”

Those concerns mirror criticism raised earlier this week by former Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb, who sent a letter to the board on Tuesday questioning whether the authority is complying with the Texas Open Meetings Act.

Another issue looming over the agency was not discussed publicly during Friday’s meeting: the NRA was recently placed under “credit watch” by S&P Global Ratings, a move that could make it more difficult for the authority to secure financing for major water infrastructure projects, including the Harbor Island desalination effort.