Candidate for city attorney ponders decision; Dye may quit

The wait for a city attorney continues for Troy as the most recent candidate has yet to accept or decline Mayor Tony Brown’s offer.

Timothy Goen, an attorney from Thompson Falls, is the latest choice for the job, which has remained vacant for months after former mayor Don Banning released the attorney from the position.

Brown said that although Goen had not chosen one way or another, he was receptive to the possibility.

What was seemingly good news for a town without an attorney for nearly half a year was bogged down with a bevy or issues raised by the council.

Councilman Phil Fisher met a comment by Brown about Goen’s busy schedule with some availability questions.

“If he’s that busy,” Fisher said. “Is he going to have time to do this job?”

Brown tried to assuage these concerns, commenting that Goen’s schedule hopefully was about to loosen up anyway.

Another potential problem was the fact that Goen may well have represented someone in the past he would be prosecuting as part of the new position as city attorney.

If that were the case, he would have to step back and plead conflict of interest, potentially leaving the city in an attorney-less vacuum again.

But perhaps the most alarming concern in regards to the city attorney was one that didn’t deal with Goen directly, but the city of Troy as a whole.

“I’ve heard we’re about to lose our judge,” said Councilman Joe Arts, who was worried that the months of no attorney had made Judge Alan Dye think of resigning.

Brown acknowledged this as a concern, but said that he was confident in retaining Dye.

“I’ve been in contact with him nearly every day,” Brown said. “He didn’t say “if you don’t get your ducks in a row, I’ll quit.””

Dye could not be reached for comment by press time.

Ultimately, it came down to Brown asking for more time so Goen could look over the job contract and approach the mayor.

“I guess what I’d like is just a few more days,” Brown said. “I know we are in dire straits here.”

In other action, the City Council … : 

• Decided that it would like the city’s electrical workers to receive more training to solve problems quicker.

 • Decided to continue billing Northern Lights at the old rate until they decide what the new, higher rate will be.

 • Expressed concern, particularly Brown is concerned about the use of a “sidewalk to nowhere,” that the City’s Safe Routes plan was considering building.

   “I’m going to push hard to make this contract available to local workers,” Brown said. “But I wouldn’t turn down any sidewalk anywhere.”

   • Discussed the city budget. The budget was first brought up in this meeting, and City Clerk Tracy Rebo told the Council that it must be passed by Sept. 6. This deadline meant that the work would have to be done earlier, and Rebo and Fisher nailed down some dates for the meetings.

   • Set a work meeting to discuss budget expenditures that will be held at 7 p.m. July 26; a revenues meeting for Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. and a wages meeting set for Aug. 16, after the regular City Council meeting. The budget was amended to add money to Health Insurance and the 911 fund, more than $3,700 and $9,400 respectively to cover deficits.