Board delays decision on paying outside counsel invoice and procurement-exception request; public comments urge transparency

A request concerning payment of outside counsel fees and whether the county should make an exception to its procurement policy was discussed March 25, 2025. The item originally appeared on the agenda as an executive-session topic related to settlement and legal advice but the board chose to handle it in open session and did not take immediate action.

County attorneys said the legal question — whether the county should authorize payment of invoices for outside counsel retained during an internal personnel matter — raises procurement and legal issues and would benefit from a formal memorandum and record before the board acts. Commissioners agreed not to take up a private executive-session settlement but to bring the issue back in open session at a later meeting and requested written materials from the county attorney and relevant invoices or totals of outside-counsel costs.

Public commenters urged the board to avoid excluding any commissioner from deliberations and asked for an outside, independent review because of perceived conflicts across commissioners, county attorneys and outside counsel. Outside counsel and county legal advisers reiterated they would prepare a memo and that a properly noticed open-session item is required for any public-funds decision.

Commissioners set a target to place the item on a future public agenda; parties asked for sufficient notice so they could prepare evidence and legal argument. The board did not decide on paying the invoice or granting an exception at the meeting.