Our View: Council should respect open meetings laws

The appointment of Kirk Fitch as Havre Police Chief seems to be getting widespread acclaim, even from those who were at first reluctant to go outside the department.

But the method by which he was chosen is cause for great concern.

Mayor Tim Solomon decided to make the hire without benefit of a public search. We think he should have had a more open process, but that is his decision to make.

But then the mayor thought it would be a good idea to get City Council together to have a private get-together with his appointee before council held a meeting for a ratification vote.

That is not the ma...