SANDPOINT — After a nearly two-and-a-half-hour executive session, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution that keeps Lake City Law as the city’s legal counsel and Fonda Jovick as city attorney.

Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm said that there was a lack of clarity on the city's legal services agreement, which caused the dispute between the council and the city. Grimm said that he and city staff could not find a record of Jovick being sworn in to her appointed position. 

To clear up that confusion, the language in the resolution was amended to say that Jovick is “hereby confirmed” as the city attorney. Grimm said that at the council’s following meeting, Jovick will be sworn in. 

Grimm said that the contract between William Harrington and the city gives the mayor the option to end the contract with 48 hours' notice and that he would be informing him of the contract’s end promptly. 

All councilors expressed relief at the resolution of the dispute, and a majority thanked the community and Grimm for working through the disagreement. 

"I appreciate that we were allowed the opportunity to do this and I’m looking forward to getting through this and starting tomorrow getting back to city business, although I don’t think we ever really stopped,” Councilor Justin Dick said.  

Part of the dispute lies in the fact that several councilors found out about a potential change in legal counsel minutes before the start of the Oct. 1 meeting. The dispute prompted all members of the council to walk out of the Oct. 1 meeting. 

Grimm said that he takes responsibility for any abrupt actions that may have contributed to the dispute. 

“I’m very grateful to the council for listening, hearing all sides of this, hearing my concerns,” Grimm said. “I’m proud as mayor and council representing the people of Sandpoint that we have found a path forward that I believe will serve the residents of Sandpoint very well.” 

A special council meeting was scheduled for Oct. 3, which had only a discussion of legal services and the Oct. 1 consent calendar on the agenda. Only three councilors attended the meeting, which was not enough to make a quorum, cancelling the meeting. 

The council is scheduled for a regular meeting next Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.