Clallam County commissioners authorize outside counsel after closed-session on potential litigation

Clallam County commissioners voted unanimously Dec. 1 to authorize the prosecuting attorney's office to retain outside counsel to assist with representation in a matter discussed during a closed executive session.

The Chair opened the special meeting and said the purpose was to hold an executive session with the prosecuting attorney's office under Washington's Open Public Meetings Act (cited in the transcript as "rcw42.30.1ten") to discuss potential litigation. The board recessed into the closed session for roughly one hour and reconvened on the public record.

"After our conversation and executive session, I would like to move that we authorize the prosecuting attorney's office to engage a third party attorney to assist with representation for the matter which we discussed in the session," Commissioner Mike French said when the board returned to open session. The motion was seconded, brought to a voice vote and passed unanimously.

The Chair noted that Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jerry Rito joined the meeting during the session. No specifics about the case discussed in executive session were disclosed on the public record at the meeting.

The special meeting began with introductions of attendees for the record; those named included Commissioner Mike French, District 1 Commissioner Mark Mosias, Assessor Pam Reston, Treasurer Jennifer White, HR and risk representative Tammy Stollinger, County Prosecutor Mark Nichols, and commissioners Randy Johnson and Todd Milkey. After the vote to authorize outside counsel, the Chair asked if there was any other business and adjourned the meeting.

The board did not place any further details about the litigation or the proposed outside counsel on the public record at that time; next procedural steps or contract details were not specified during the meeting.