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Select Board pauses action on Barnstable County public-health IMA after KP Law disclosure
Summary
KP Law informed the Select Board that it represents Barnstable County and several towns; the board accepted the disclosure but withdrew the motion pending counsel clarification about possible negotiation conflicts and asked the manager to obtain additional detail.
Town counsel (via a written disclosure read at the meeting) notified the Select Board that KP Law represents Barnstable County and multiple Cape towns and requested the board indicate it had no objection to KP Law reviewing revisions to a County Public Health intermunicipal agreement (IMA). The letter noted the State Ethics Commission had determined the firm’s attorneys are not municipal employees and that the disclosure was to dispel any appearance of conflict.
Board members asked whether KP Law’s simultaneous representation could raise negotiation conflicts when towns are participating parties to an IMA. The chair and town manager said they believed counsel would handle any conflicts professionally, but members requested more clarity. The board withdrew the pending motion and asked the manager to seek further clarification from KP Law before scheduling a vote.
The transcript records no objection to acknowledging receipt of the disclosure; the board chose to delay formal action until counsel responds to a requested clarification about negotiation scenarios.
