Faced by critics, Libby mayor ends meeting

LIBBY — Embattled Libby Mayor Doug Roll apparently had enough at last week’s council meeting.

After several residents called for his resignation, Roll adjourned the meeting over the objections of several residents and council member 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 calmly but forcefully demanded Roll’s resignation and change in the city.

Council rules allow people 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 to address the council. After beginning his statement referring to honor and integrity, Orr 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.”

Olsen then made a motion for people to be given three minutes of uninterrupted speaking time. The motion was seconded by council member Brent Teske but Roll ignored both the motion and the second and pressed Orr to continue with his comments.

Magill implored the council to censure Roll for his part in election 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.”

Magill had filed the initial complaint with the state Commissioner of Political Practices over the 2013 city election.

Commissioner Jonathan Motl recently determined that Roll, former City Attorney James Reintsma and  2013 City Council members Barbara Desch, Peggy Williams, Bill Bischoff, Robin Benson and Vicky Lawrence violated Montana’s campaign practice laws. The violations involved a lawsuit against Olsen, who was running for mayor against Roll.

Motl referred the matter to the Lincoln County Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution.

Rob Hubbard was next at the microphone. He directed his remarks not only at the three current members of the council implicated in the election violation, but also to Teske and Dejon Raines, new members who have taken office since 2013.

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

Teske and Raines have declined to comment on the election issue and made no response during the meeting.

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

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

Charles McFarland echoed Sullivan.

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

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 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.

During Hubbard’s second round of comments, Roll decided to close the meeting.

Hubbard demanded that 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. “The City Hall is closed.”