Loveland Reporter-Herald: The four Loveland City Council members at the center of an open meetings investigation will not have their legal bills in the case covered by the city.

On Tuesday, the five other members voted 4 to 1 against paying a $23,877 invoice for the services of Denver-based attorney John Zakhem, who was retained by Dana Foley, Pat McFall, Steve Olson and Andrea Samson after a special counsel recommended filing criminal charges. (Those four recused themselves from the discussion and vote.)

“I believe that they jumped the gun,” Loveland Mayor Jacki Marsh said, explaining her vote against the budget appropriation. “There were no charges brought, it was a very short timeframe, because we had a statute of limitations deadline. So, to me, to hire an attorney before any charges were brought was premature.”

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