Tennant appointed as long-term city attorney

By MEGAN STRICKLAND

The Western News

David Tennant was unanimously voted in as Libby City Attorney on Monday, a little over two months after he was temporarily hired in a three-month contract by Mayor Doug Roll.

(Shortly after being hired, it was announced that Tennant was being charged with professional misconduct by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. See related story.)

The appointment came after some questions from council member Allen Olsen about whether or not Tennant’s contract gave council members enough access to legal advice. Olsen also questioned why Tennant was allowed to take an oath of office without being approved by the council first. Mayor Doug Roll said the swearing in was necessary for prosecutions to be done legally.

“In order to do prosecutions he does have to be sworn in,” Roll said. “City attorney, that’s the position – that was a temporary position. I did not appoint anybody. I hired him to fill in.”

Roll said the law required Tennant to be sworn in and that there were other applicants for the job, but that most were unqualified.

Olsen honed in on what services Tennant could or could not provide for the council members.

“We as a council, as a whole need legal advice,” Olsen said. “I know you’ve been doing great on the criminal part. I’ve heard on nothing but good stuff, but if we can’t get legal advice from you, then we are going to have to seek outside legal advice.”

Tennant clarified that he could not weigh in on legal matters that were personal for council members, like divorce proceedings. He also might not be able to give an opinion on issues where council members are at odds.

“I don’t have a dog in whatever fight there is between the council members and the mayor,” Tennant said.

Council member Dejon Raines said she was satisfied with the contract and the other council members also spoke favorably of Tennant’s service as attorney.

Tennant said that he would like to explore ways to save the council money in the future, like nixing the requirement that the be a city council meetings. It’s a three-hour drive every time Tennant has to come to a meeting. His firm’s hourly rate is $295 per hour, which means the cost of a meeting is high.