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Library network to retain Boyles Law Firm

DEVIN WEEKS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 11 months AGO
by DEVIN WEEKS
Devin Weeks is a third-generation North Idaho resident. She holds an associate degree in journalism from North Idaho College and a bachelor's in communication arts from Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. Devin embarked on her journalism career at the Coeur d'Alene Press in 2013. She worked weekends for several years, covering a wide variety of events and issues throughout Kootenai County. Devin now mainly covers K-12 education and the city of Post Falls. She enjoys delivering daily chuckles through the Ghastly Groaner and loves highlighting local people in the Fast Five segment that runs in CoeurVoice. Devin lives in Post Falls with her husband and their three eccentric and very needy cats. | June 24, 2023 1:08 AM

POST FALLS — Community Library Network trustees voted 2-1 Thursday to retain the Boyles Law Firm as the network's legal counsel.

D. Colton Boyles is one of the attorneys being considered for hire by the North Idaho College board of trustees.

Tim Plass and Tom Hanley voted in favor of hiring Boyles. Vanessa Robinson cast the dissenting vote. Katie Blank was not present.

The attorney who previously represented the library network, Katharine Brereton of Lake City Law, LLC, submitted her resignation earlier in the day after the agenda for Thursday’s meeting was amended late Wednesday afternoon to include “disengaging a library attorney” and “engaging a library attorney.”

“This is a disappointing end to the relationship, but the library has a right to employ legal counsel that aligns with its objectives," Brereton said after the meeting Thursday. "In the past week, I've come to understand that's not me."

The move was surprising to some, as it was only first briefly mentioned by the new board chair, Rachelle Ottosen, at the end of the June 15 meeting that the board would seek to replace Brereton.

No request for qualifications process was conducted to select new legal counsel.

"It's a nay because this has just been a rushed situation," Robinson said when casting her vote, adding that no other firms were allowed to participate.

Based in Sandpoint, Boyles was one of five Republican attorneys nominated by members of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee to replace Barry McHugh as Kootenai County Prosecutor. Commissioners selected another candidate. Boyles represented former Idaho Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin when she was successfully sued by the Idaho Press Club for improper denial of public records requests.

Brereton said she resigned because she respects the position.

"I wish the library and its staff all the best,” she said.

Visit communitylibrary.net for agendas and meeting information.

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