To do that, the group decided Thursday to allocate $5 million for legal expenses as it joins a lawsuit filed by Denton County officials over hiring decisions.<\/p>\n
The choice to sue the North Central Texas Council of Governments came during an emergency meeting in Arlington.<\/p>\n
RTC members said the suit is intended to change the Metropolitan Planning Organization structure in North Texas. The group would have the ability to hire and fire transportation department staffers, instead of the council of governments as its CEO Todd Little maintains. A proposed agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation still under negotiation would be similar to those used in other Texas metro areas, officials said.<\/p>\n
Morris was fired by Little \u2014 weeks before the FIFA World Cup games in Arlington start in June.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Michael-Morris-Headshot-1024x683.jpg\")
Michael Morris served 35 years as director of transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments and staff director to the Regional Transportation Council. (Courtesy photo | North Central Texas Council of Governments)<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just voted today that the Regional Transportation Council is going to intervene in the lawsuit \u2026 to ensure that our regional (decisions) here in transportation, our interests, are protected and taken care of,\u201d Arlington Mayor Jim Ross said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe RTC is the policy-making entity for transportation here in North Texas and for someone to come in and unilaterally make a decision to get rid of an individual that has over four decades of institutional knowledge \u2014 we\u2019re owed at least an explanation,\u201d Ross said.<\/p>\n
Denton County Judge Andy Eads said he was encouraged by the transportation council\u2019s strong show of support to address \u201cthe overreach\u201d of the council of governments board of directors.<\/p>\n
Eads said the RTC\u2019s actions \u201creinforces what we have maintained from the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLeaders from all four corners of the county, along with partners across the region, have come together in support of restoration of proper governance and keeping transportation decisions where they belong,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The 45-member policy committee \u2014 which determines how regional transportation dollars are spent \u2014 made its decision on joining the lawsuit after an executive session that lasted about an hour and a half.<\/p>\n
Denton County\u2019s 376-page suit, filed April 6 against executive board members, stated its purpose \u201cis to stop the executive board of NCTCOG, which is currently unlawfully constituted, from taking continued ultra vires (beyond their legal authority) actions, and to correct its structure to be lawfully constituted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier in the meeting, former Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley singled out Little for his role in the monthslong conflict that culminated in the firing of Morris.<\/p>\n
The transportation council and the council of governments worked collaboratively for more than four decades without the executive board exercising oversight authority, Whitley said during the open comment portion of the meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two entities have worked in harmony for over 40 years,\u201d Whitley said. \u201cIn less than 12 months, Todd has destroyed that collaborative spirit and created the adversarial environment we are experiencing today. It\u2019s a disgrace the way we treated someone who has dedicated his career to the region. As we move forward, I encourage you to maintain the high road.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Whitley, a past president of the council of governments and former chair of the RTC, said he supported a new agreement with TxDOT that complies with the current federal statutes and includes the requirements for the Metropolitan Planning Organization.<\/p>\n
Naming the RTC as the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Whitley said, \u201csolves the issue of who hires, fires and evaluates the MPO director and its staff. This has already been done in Houston, San Antonio and Austin. The (council of governments) can remain as the fiscal agent, but must acknowledge that its only responsibility is to pay bills submitted to it by the RTC.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duncan Webb, a Collin County commissioner who once chaired the RTC, also urged members to adopt the new TxDOT agreement as a way to move forward so no council of governments official can dictate transportation policy.<\/p>\n
Interim transportation director Dan Kessler was seated at the head table during most of the meeting, a spot usually occupied by Morris.<\/p>\n
He said Morris was in good spirits and planned to volunteer his time for regional mobility projects, including the FIFA World Cup, while he is unemployed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is doing well,\u201d Kessler said.<\/p>\n
Still, the firing of Morris on Tuesday creates a \u201chole\u201d in the transportation department. The department, however, will maintain its consistent, professional standards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look forward to getting to know you and working with you,\u201d Kessler told RTC members.<\/p>\n
Morris, 70, could not be reached for comment Thursday.<\/p>\n
Before the executive session, members debated who could attend.<\/p>\n
Collin County Judge Chris Hill attended the meeting as a new member but was excluded from the executive session on advice from legal counsel because he is a party to Denton County\u2019s suit. An attorney for the group said Hill\u2019s presence would violate attorney-client privilege and the meeting would be considered illegal.<\/p>\n
Three other RTC members \u2014 including Fort Worth City Council member Carlos Flores \u2014 who serve in dual roles as executive board members recused themselves from the executive session.<\/p>\n
With the FIFA World Cup on the horizon, officials are concerned about problems that could arise given that Morris was an integral part of the region\u2019s transportation plan.<\/p>\n
Ross said he has tremendous respect for Morris, who has been reaching out to RTC committees to offer his assistance.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo fire him some 44 days or so before the World Cup kicks off is beyond belief,\u201d Ross said. \u201cTo Mr. Morris\u2019 credit, he\u2019s not the type of individual that\u2019s gonna step away from this. \u2026 He wants to see a World Cup kickoff with any transportation hiccups, and I believe he\u2019ll stay engaged.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eric E. Garcia is senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n