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Council appoints outside attorney to investigate internal complaints after heated public debate
Summary
Council voted to retain attorney Mark Miles to serve as an independent investigator into complaints raised against a council member; the selection prompted public comment urging cost restraint and debate over whether attorneys or private investigators are appropriate.
The Island City Council on April 15 voted to retain attorney Mark Miles as an independent investigator to examine allegations that led to a proposed censure of a council member. Council discussed two candidates, and after nominations and a second, the council carried a motion to engage Miles to conduct a factual investigation.
City staff presented two biographies and standard engagement agreements for the candidates. The staff report estimated the investigation would likely cost less than $15,000; Miles' rate was listed at $350 per hour and the other candidate’s at $450 per hour. City Manager (name not specified) told the council he believed an independent investigation was important to provide clarity and transparency.
Why it matters: the investigation was proposed in response to complaints about council conduct and prior internal communications; hiring an outside investigator addresses requests for an independent fact-finding process and may influence council governance and public confidence.
Council deliberations and public reaction Council members debated selection, costs and optics. Some council members and members of the public said an investigator is needed for transparency; others criticized hiring an attorney instead of a licensed private investigator, citing cost and fiscal constraints. Resident speakers said the matter merited independent review, with some urging immediate resignations if misconduct were found; a private investigator in public comment said investigators charge less and urged the council to consider a lower-cost option.
Contract scope and limitations Staff and the city attorney said the investigator is a neutral fact-finder who would conduct interviews and review documents and then report findings to council. Participation in interviews is voluntary; staff said the investigator would not have subpoena power and that the council would determine how and whether to make the investigator's report public.
Council action and implementation After nominations and a second for Miles, the council voted to hire him. Staff said the city manager would execute the agreement and the investigator would begin promptly, conduct interviews and review documents and return a written report to the council.
Ending note Public commenters urged careful stewardship of city funds and called for transparency in how the final report would be shared with the public; the council did not adopt a separate public-release schedule at the meeting.
