Residents call for Roll's resignation; mayor abruptly ends meeting, tells police to clear City Hall

Libby’s embattled mayor, Doug Roll, has apparently had enough. After several residents spoke at Monday’s City Council meeting and called for his resignation, Roll unilaterally adjourned the meeting over the objections of several residents and Councilman Allen Olsen.

“I’m going to adjourn the meeting at this time,” Roll said as he whacked the gavel on the council table. “It’s getting redundant. We’ve heard enough.”

Roll’s move to close the meeting generated more anger than was displayed during the public comment period. The residents, while forceful in demanding Roll’s resignation and change in the city, did so in a calm and civil manner. Roll, however, demonstrated neither civility nor respect.

The council’s rules allow residents three minutes to comment on items listed on the agenda early in the meeting, and then allow an additional three minutes for comment on items not on the agenda.

D.C. Orr was the first resident to address the council during the comment period. Orr began his statement referencing honor and integrity, but was cut off less than 20 seconds into his comments by Roll, who asked to which agenda item Orr’s comments applied.

“Start the time over and I’ll explain it to you, if you listen,” Orr replied. “For once in your life, listen.”

Councilman Olsen then made a motion for residents to be given three minutes of uninterrupted speaking time. The motion was 

seconded by Councilman Brent Teske, but Roll ignored both the motion and the second and pressed Orr to continue with his comments.

Arlen Magill was the next resident to comment. Magill filed the initial complaint with the Commissioner of Political Practices, alleging wrongdoing on the part of the mayor, the City of Libby, the former City Attorney and five current and former members of the City Council. The Commissioner determined Roll, along with former City Attorney James Reintsma and members of the 2013 City Council Barbara Desch, Peggy Williams, Bill Bischoff, Robin Benson and Vicky Lawrence, violated Montana’s campaign practice laws and referred the matter to the Lincoln County Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Magill implored the council to censure Mayor Roll for his part in the violations.

“I strongly urge you guys to initiate the censure process,” Magill said. “Take action and soon, for the City of Libby and the voters.”

Resident Rob Hubbard next came to the podium. He directed his remarks not only at the three members of the council implicated in the scandal, but also to the new members who have taken office since, Teske and Dejon Raines.

“Mr. Teske, Ms. Raines, I encourage you to find a backbone,” Hubbard said. “And don’t follow the leader.”

Teske and Raines have both declined to comment on the matter, and made no response during Monday’s meeting.

Libby resident Gordon Sullivan also addressed his comments to Raines and Teske, imploring them to act on the issue.

“What I propose you do tonight is what’s right for Libby,” he said.

Charles McFarland echoed Sullivan’s statement.

“It’s time for you guys to be different,” he said to Teske and Raines.

Libby resident Bill Cunnane, who applied for the council seat vacated by Robin Benson earlier this year, said he’s tired of hearing the same problems from the city over and over again. 

“We need change. We need people to stand up and be forthright,” he said.

Cunnane then proposed the formation of a citizens’ committee to look into all of the contracts issued by the city in recent years. No actions on Cunnane’s suggestion were taken, and no comments were made by any members of the council.

Orr, Magill, Cunnane, Sullivan and Hubbard all chose to offer additional comments during the off-agenda time, but their comments followed mostly the same line as their previous statements.

Magill implored the mayor to think about his family, asking the mayor how we was going to respond when his grandson asked him why he was the first mayor in Libby’s history to be removed from office.

Libby resident Bob Ingenice, who attended the meeting, said he understood the sentiment of Roll’s critics, but felt Magill’s comments went too far.

“He shouldn’t have brought the mayor’s family into it, that was over the top,” he said. “We don’t normally go to these meetings, but we knew this one was going to be different. For us it was like dinner and a show.”

It was during Hubbard’s second round of comments when Roll decided to close the meeting. He smacked the gavel on the table and declared the meeting adjourned without any input or comment from the members of the council and in spite of the desire of several residents to be heard by their elected officials.

Hubbard refused to be silenced however, demanding the council continue to listen to the assembled residents. Other members of the audience also jumped up, shouting for Roll to continue the meeting and for his resignation.

Roll, still arguing the comments were redundant, called Libby Police Chief Jim Smith up from his seat at the back of the room.

“The meeting is adjourned,” Smith said, moving to the front of the room. “The City Hall is closed.”