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Cochise County supervisors vote to retain outside counsel after executive session on notice of claim
Summary
After a closed executive session, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors directed the county attorney to retain Nick Rissing to represent the board in a notice-of-claim matter filed by Supervisor Terry Thomas Crosby; the motion passed 2-0 with District 1 Supervisor Crosby absent and recused.
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors on June 20 directed the Cochise County Attorney’s Office to retain attorney Nick Rissing to represent the board regarding a notice of claim filed by Supervisor Terry Thomas Crosby, District 1. The vote was 2-0 with Supervisor Crosby recused and not present.
The action followed a closed executive session. Supervisor Gomez, District 2, moved “to direct Cochise County Attorney’s Office to retain Nick Rissing to represent the Board of Supervisors.” Supervisor Antinori, District 3, seconded the motion. After the roll call votes of “aye” from the two supervisors present, the chair stated, “Motion carries 2 0 1 not present.”
The board convened the special meeting under provisions of the Arizona Revised Statutes governing public meetings and executive sessions, citing Arizona Revised Statutes §38-431.02(H) (public access notice) and Arizona Revised Statutes §38-431.03(A)(3) and (A)(4) (authorized executive-session topics). Meeting participants stated that minutes and discussion in the executive session are confidential under those statutes.
County staff present for the meeting were identified as Laura Lowenheim, Joe Casey, Jared Gilman and Paul Correa. The board entered executive session at about 12:01 p.m. and reconvened at about 12:19 p.m., at which time the retention motion was made and approved. The transcript records that District 1 Supervisor Terry Thomas Crosby had recused himself and was not present for the vote.
No dollar amounts, contract terms or retention agreement language were provided in the meeting transcript, and the executive-session discussion was described as confidential. The meeting notice also said the public would have access to the meeting room 15 minutes prior to the meeting, and that members of the public could attend via Microsoft Teams.
The board scheduled its next meeting for Thursday, June 26 at 10 a.m. in the Hearing Room for a work session to review the agenda for the week of June 29.
