PENDLETON — Website owner and operator James Tibbets will not be getting into Pendleton City Council’s executive sessions anytime soon.

The council held a special meeting Tuesday night, Feb. 25, at city hall to determine if Tibbets met criteria as news media to cover the closed-door sessions. The council found him lacking.

Tibbets gave a meandering and muddled presentation about his background and his website. His responses to questions from the council often were disconnected and vague.

Regarding his credentials and qualifications as a reporter, he said he read the Associated Press Stylebook, a writing and editing reference for newsrooms, students and others. He also said he has no criminal convictions for lying.

Rather than a regular publishing schedule, he told the council he publishes when he finds something that interests him.

Councilor Ellie McBride asked him about the business structure of his web operation and his news gathering process. He said he made a limited liability company to own the business, a point he had stressed earlier, and did not explain how he gathers news.

The most damning argument against him came when Mayor McKennon McDonald pointed out Tibbets, on his application for consideration as a media representative, checked the box agreeing to abide by the rules of reporting on an executive session, which lay out a reporter can report on the general nature of the session but not specifics.

But, she continued, on his website he stated he would disregard that rule.

Tibbets said if there was something he felt was in the public’s interest, he would report it.

Councilor Carole Innes said she found that disconcerting.

She also made the motion to deny his application, which received a swift second and then unanimous approval in favor.

The council meets next on March 4.