TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: County Counsel
MEETING DATE: October 20, 2020
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Christian Curtis
PHONE:
234-6885
ITEM TYPE: Regular Agenda
TIME ALLOCATED FOR ITEM: 10 min.
AGENDA TITLE:
title
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Disclosure of County Counsel's Legal Analysis Regarding the Duration of a Sheriff's Term Following Appointment
(Sponsor: County Counsel)
End
RECOMMENDED ACTION/MOTION:
recommendation
Direct County Counsel whether to make public the specific legal analysis and authorities relied upon in advising the Board as to the duration of the Sheriff's term following appointment.
End
PREVIOUS BOARD/BOARD COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
On October 13, 2020, during public comment, a member of the public expressed a desire to know the specific statutes and other authorities County Counsel relied upon when advising the Board of Supervisor on December 17, 2019, as to the duration of its appointment of Sheriff Matthew Kendall. At that time, comments by several Board members indicated a desire to address this issue once properly agendized.
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
A member of the public has requested information as to the specific statutes, attorney general opinions, and other legal authority relied upon by County Counsel in advising the Board of Supervisors as to the duration of the appointment it made of Sheriff Matthew Kendall and the Board's inability to call for an election until the expiration of that term. This information is legally privileged and exempt from disclosure, but may be shared should the Board of Supervisors so choose. County Counsel seeks direction from the Board as to whether it wishes to waive privilege and share this information at this time.
County Counsel takes no position on the appropriateness of disclosure in this instance. Should the Board decide to share this research, then it is advised that the Board clarify that this is not intended as precedent of waiving counsel's advice genera...
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