Commission votes to retain outside counsel and retires to nonpublic session

After an executive-session discussion, Strafford County Commissioners voted Nov. 20 to retain outside counsel to represent the commission and the county delegation on a legal matter referenced during the executive session. The chair said the delegation would need separate counsel for matters involving the county delegation and a filing by Representative Bailey was mentioned as part of the situation.

The commission then voted to enter nonpublic session for the purposes of discussing personnel and contract negotiations; a roll call was taken and the commission retired to nonpublic session. The chair commented on the nature of civil litigation, noting in public session that "anybody can sue anybody for anything," reflecting the commission’s position that external counsel is necessary to respond to pending legal actions.

No additional details about the nature of the claims or the counsel engaged were discussed in public session; the commission recorded the motions and authorized the steps to proceed with hiring counsel and to meet in nonpublic session.