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Board member recuses from PO report amid questions about disclosure of attorney ties
Summary
The board accepted a motion to approve the purchase‑order report with a modification after a member recused themself, and several trustees debated whether a board member had failed to disclose a claimed relationship with the district's legal firm (referred to in the transcript as F3). Attorneys reportedly told the board they had no attorney‑client relationship with the member.
During the consent calendar, a board member announced a recusal from the district's purchase‑order (PO) report because of a perceived conflict related to an entry listed as F3, the district's outside legal firm.
The recusal occurred after the PO report was pulled for separate discussion. Board members debated whether the recused member had an undisclosed personal relationship with the law firm identified in the report. At one point, a board member summarized the concern: the firm had been queried and reportedly confirmed they had not had an attorney‑client relationship with the recused member.
One trustee said that if a board member pulls or abstains from an item, they should supply context so that colleagues have full information before a vote. Another trustee objected to repetitive questioning that consumes staff time and district resources. The board discussed whether attorney‑client privilege applied; meeting comments indicate district counsel advised there was no closed‑session privilege preventing discussion of the email confirming the firm’s records.
The board later moved to approve the PO report with a modification (correcting a Crown Castle listing to reflect the 2024–25 year). The motion carried with voice votes and one recusal recorded. The transcript does not show a final determination of wrongdoing; attorneys contacted for the board reportedly told trustees the law firm had no attorney‑client relationship with the board member who had been the subject of the inquiry.
The board did not take additional disciplinary action at the meeting; members reiterated expectations that disclosures be made when votes or pulls occur so that colleagues and the public have necessary context.
