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BURLEY, Idaho (AP) — The chairman of a policing committee in Idaho sent an email instructing members to mislead the media during a meeting -- and he accidentally copied in reporters.
The committee was supposed to play peace-maker and propose a deal that would resolve policing disputes between the city of Burley and Cassia County. The sheriff's department has policed Burley for the past 30 years, but city leaders have recently complained about the cost, reported the Times-News (http://bit.ly/1HctVbH ).
The committee was scheduled to review its final recommendations in a public meeting last Friday, and state law prohibits committees from planning what's to be said in meetings before they are held.
But Bill Parsons, the panel's chairman, wrote to committee with instruction on Wednesday.
"If any newspaper is there we will say someone is not ready and then we can handle by email," he wrote.
He said he was trying to keep the details away from Jay Lenkersdorfer, co-owner of the Weekly Mailer and a candidate for city council.
The email continued on to say Lenkersdorfer "is moving around and I do not want him to have any information until we present to both bodies. We will not turn on computer until we see who is there."
Parsons took responsibility for the email Friday, saying he used a "poor choice of words," but did not apologize.
"That guy who is stirring around, Mr. Lenkersdorfer, would have seen the report, would have blown it up before the election," he said.
Lenkersdorfer he was "astounded" to be copied on the email from Parsons, an attorney in the firm that represents Burley.
"I wasn't surprised they wanted secrecy," said Lenkersdorfer, "but I was surprised they put it in an email and sent it to the media."
Benjamin J. Cluff, a Twins Falls attorney who occasionally represents the Times-News, told the paper that there is no question Parsons broke the law.
"The fact that the committee would plan, in advance, to violate the open meeting laws in the event members of the media are present is highly unusual and, in my opinion, particularly egregious," said Cluff.
Reporters attended the meeting Friday, but the committee did not discuss the substance of its final report as was indicated in the agenda.
The Times-News filed public records requests Friday for any other email exchanges by committee members.
Parsons offered to sign an affidavit instead -- an offer the newspaper declined -- and said he would hate for an email scandal to tarnish the committee's work.
"It's the hard work of citizens," he said of the report. "And they had a chairman who screwed up."
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Information from: The Times-News, http://www.magicvalley.com
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