LIBBY — The Lincoln County Attorney’s Office on Friday validated the third version of a draft petition to recall Libby Mayor Doug Roll.

On Monday, Lincoln County Elections Administrator Leigh Riggleman said Tammy Brown, the petitioner, has 90 days to collect 329 voter signatures, or 20 percent of the voting population during the last municipal election, to move forward with the measure to remove Roll from office.

Roll, who said he had heard over the weekend that the petition was validated, said he has yet to draft a response.

“It’s disappointing and it’s frustrating,” he said.

Brown’s petition alleges that Roll appointed David Tennant to the city attorney position without approval from the city council. The petition also claims that Roll refused to place items requested by council member Dejon Raines on the agenda.

“I did not offer David Tennant a written contract; also there is nothing in the city charter having to do with me arranging the agenda,” Roll said.

While Libby’s charter doesn’t specifically require the mayor to arrange the agenda, the charter does require the mayor to administer affairs of local government.

Roll also maintained that he did not appoint Tennant as city attorney but merely hired him in a temporary capacity earlier this year. The charter in its listing of the mayor’s administrative duties underlines the mayor’s duty to appoint all department heads with council approval.

Riggleman said that in reviewing the petition, County Attorney Bernard Cassidy offered a few minor changes to the document, but said it was valid with or without those changes.

“It was not that big of a deal,” Riggleman said.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at [email protected].