Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 24/98) - The city was advised secret meetings were likely illegal before being told so by a judge, says one city alderman.

Ald. David Ramsay said he has learned the city solicited an opinion on the legality of the controversial weekly meetings before fighting the case in court.

Ramsay referred to an analogy Mayor Dave Lovell made following the May 27 NWT Supreme Court ruling that the meetings were illegal. After the ruling, Lovell said he and council did not know the meetings were illegal, and compared participation in them to driving too fast without knowing the speeding limit.

"I believe this opinion will show Mayor Lovell, (former city administrator) Mr. (Doug) Lagore and council knew exactly what speed they were going," said Ramsay.

The rookie alderman said city administrator Max Hall assured him he could see the legal opinion. But Hall, he added, said the opinion was "privileged information" and not to be shared with the public.

"It is now becoming much more apparent that for 10 years Doug Lagore did run this city," said Ramsay. "Where were the politicians of the day?"

Ramsay said Lagore saw the meetings as pivotal to his control. When they were threatened by an opinion that indicated they were illegal, he sought another.

"(Lagore) was like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs -- his time was up," said Ramsay, noting Lagore moved to a new job shortly after the new council brought an end to secret meetings.

Following the meeting, Ramsay said, "To me it just boils down to honesty. How could the mayor say he didn't know when he did?"

Asked if he would be asking the mayor to resign if the opinion says secret meetings were illegal, Ramsay said he would have to confer with council.

The city's appointment of Lagore as representative of the city during the trial also came under sharp criticism.

"I am not aware of any direction by council to authorize this action," said Ald. Kevin O'Reilly.

O'Reilly added that when he became aware of a letter authorizing the appointment, he requested a meeting of council and city lawyer Leo Burgess.

"Mayor Lovell steadfastly refused to do so," said O'Reilly.