Lewistown commission votes to appeal variances granted to Springwater Apartments

After reopening the meeting following an executive session, a staff member reminded commissioners that "what was discussed in close session in executive session was confidential" and instructed them not to discuss the matter with the public, by email, social media, letters or personal communications, and to refer any public questions to Holly.

On Item 2, commissioners discussed a pending appeal related to variances that the Lewistown Board of Adjustment granted to Springwater Apartments. Commissioner Robertson moved "to engage [outside counsel] Felt Martin PC to file an appeal from the district court on behalf of the city commission challenging [the granting of variances]," and Commissioner Warren seconded the motion.

The commission proceeded to a roll-call vote. Commissioners Bowser, Bueller, Day, Hewitt, Robertson, Shaver and Warren each responded during roll call; the transcript records these responses as affirmative during the roll call. The transcript does not record any 'no' votes or an abstention during the roll call, and no vote counts beyond those named responses are specified.

The motion directs the commission to retain outside counsel to initiate litigation challenging the variances; the transcript does not specify the legal grounds for the appeal, a filing timeline, or the exact spelling/firm details beyond the name given in the record as "Felt Martin PC." No district-court filing date or next procedural deadline is recorded in the provided segments.

The meeting moved next to a 'Citizens request' item and then to 'good of the order' with brief closing remarks; no substantive public comments on the appeal are captured in the supplied segments. The commission indicated that members and the public should direct questions about the executive session or the appeal to Holly or to the staff member who issued the confidentiality reminder.