A Flathead County land use consulting company is suing the City of Whitefish, saying it violated Montana open meeting laws when it crafted its recently implemented affordable housing policy.
Mayre Flowers’ firm CommUnity Consulting filed the suit in Flathead County District Court on June 28. Their complaint alleges that two sub-committees that worked on the affordable housing policy held closed door meetings, therefore violating state law.
“It was impossible to really understand what was being offered in public and what was being considered behind closed doors,” Mayre said.
City Manager Adam Hammatt said Tuesday afternoon that the city had not been served any court documents related to the case, but said the sub-committees in question only conducted research for the Whitefish Strategic Housing Plan Committee, “For their review, consideration and discussion. Every single one of that committee’s meetings were open to the public.”
It’s unclear when the lawsuit may move forward. Flowers is asking the court to void the city’s affordable housing policy.
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