Citizens for Open Government, Inc. v. City of Polson, 2015 MT 55 (Feb. 24, 2015) (Baker, J.) (5-0, aff’d)
Issue: (1) Whether citizens’ group was denied its right under Montana’s open meeting laws to participate in an executive session of the City Commission; (2) whether the district court abused its discretion by declining to void the city’s decision to present an offer letter to a city manager candidate; and (3) whether the district court properly determined facts in a summary judgment proceeding without an evidentiary hearing on the merits.
Short Answer: (1) Yes; (2) no; and (3) yes, as there were no genuine disputes of material fact.
Affirmed
Facts: The city of Polson began the process of hiring a new city manager in the spring of 2013.…