Broomfield Enterprise: Broomfield City Council has agreed to hire special counsel to review the Feb. 20 oil and gas executive session.

Interim City and County Attorney Pat Gilbert suggested hiring Marcus McAskin, of Michow Cox & McAskin, a Greenwood Village-based firm that specializes in municipal law.

Ward 5 Councilwoman Guyleen Castriotta said she felt the oil and gas update given in the executive session was not covered by attorney-client privilege. She received feedback that residents perceived that as a lack of transparency and that it fosters feelings of mistrust. Castriotta said she felt she let her constituents down.

“I won’t be supporting that kind of behind-closed-door update in the future,” she said. “Our citizens have a right to know what is happening with oil and gas development and any matters that so greatly impacts our entire community.”

Several council members then discussed executive sessions, the need for council to ask for legal advic,e and to give staff direction in private settings so as not to hurt their negotiating position.

Ward 4 Councilman Kevin Kreeger said he agrees negotiations should be in private, but he wants clarity on decision-making.

One action — that was supported by the majority of council — was taken at that session, Kreeger said, and other legal options were not. He wants to know if that’s allowed.

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