Kodiak Island Borough Assembly waives attorney-client privilege; rules Roberts appointment stands

The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly voted Wednesday to waive and release an attorney-client opinion about a mayoral veto tied to the Oct. 16 appointment of Caroline Roberts to a vacant assembly seat and the chair ruled that the appointment stands.

The attorney’s written advice, which legal counsel issued on Oct. 21, concluded the outgoing mayor’s veto was untimely because it was submitted after the appointee had taken the oath of office. Mayor Griffin read the opinion’s conclusion during the meeting: “the mayor’s [veto] was untimely because it was submitted after the appointee had taken the oath of office,” and the assembly then voted to make the opinion public.

Why it matters: the waiver ended debate over whether the borough should treat the mayor’s written veto as effective. Assembly members said releasing the opinion promotes transparency; others raised concerns…