The Haines Borough Assembly at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 6, will have a second executive session on a lawsuit filed in Superior Court that challenges Greg Goodman’s eligibility to serve on the assembly.
The assembly went into executive session Tuesday to discuss the challenge from write-in candidate Karen Hess, who alleges that Goodman does not meet borough residency requirements. Goodman defeated Hess in the Oct. 5 election for assembly seat “E.”
Borough manager Mark Earnest said the assembly Tuesday had prepared some more questions for borough attorney Brooks Chandler about the lawsuit that has been filed against both the Haines Borough and Goodman.
“(Dec. 6) will be an executive session on the same subject, and I’ll report back to them the answers to their questions,” Earnest said.
Chandler sent an e-mail Monday to update the borough, following a court status hearing that day. “As Mr. Goodman had yet to be served, the court simply scheduled an additional status hearing for Dec. 15,” Chandler wrote.
He said an administrative record would be completed for that hearing, including transcripts of assembly deliberations.
He noted, “One interesting issue raised by Judge (Philip) Pallenberg is whether the proper remedy if the election challenge is successful is seating Ms. Hess or declaring the seat vacant and holding a new election.”
“He asked the parties to research this issue in detail when our briefs are submitted,” Chandler wrote.