PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 26, 2023
MONUMENT, Colo. — At a special meeting on Wednesday evening, April 26, 2023, the Monument Town Council voted to waive its attorney-client privilege and release pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act an invoice for legal services provided by the law firm Sherman and Howard. The Town Council previously approved Resolution No. 28-2023 authorizing payment of the invoice while maintaining the Town’s attorney-client privilege related to it.
In December 2022, the Town Attorney resigned and the Town Council directed the Town Manager to hire an attorney to represent the Town and its staff, but the Town Manager was unable to hire an attorney to represent the Town. Mayor Mitch LaKind, then a Council Member and Mayor-Elect, engaged the law firm Sherman and Howard, LLC to provide assistance. The Sherman and Howard invoice includes legal services associated with the Town’s December 2022 special attorney investigation, questions regarding the commencement of terms of office for newly elected Council Members in light of the Town’s transition from a statutory municipality to its Home Rule Charter, and the legality and propriety of Town Council special meetings and proposed executive sessions during December 2022.
In agreeing to pay for and release the Sherman and Howard, LLC invoice the Town Council considered the Interim Town Attorney’s opinion that legal services described in the invoice related to providing for the interests of the Town of Monument and therefore it is both legal and appropriate for the Town to pay the invoice. The Town Council also considered the costs to Town’s taxpayers that would be involved in a threatened legal battle if it did not waive its attorney-client privilege and release the invoice. The invoice which was provided to the Town, and which is being released contains 4 redactions related to work that did not benefit the Town and for which the Town did not pay, resulting in a $764 reduction in the amount paid compared to the total amount charged.
For more information, please contact:
Mike Foreman
Town Manager
645 Beacon Lite Rd. Monument, CO 80132
mforeman@tomgov.org
719-322-3043 cell | 719-884-8011 Fax
Follow @TownofMonument
