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N.D. – An Attorney General’s Opinion favors Valley City after Eugene Bjerke asked whether the city commission violated on open meetings law by discussing a matter not on a special meeting agenda before an employee grievance hearing on May 3 concerning former Police Chief Dean Ross.

Valley City mayor Bob Werkhoven made the announcement during the end of the city commission meeting Monday night.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said in his opinion that the city’s appointment of special counsel Sarah Andrews Herman before the hearing did comply with North Dakota Century code being it was directly related to the grievance hearing.

An attorney representing Dean Ross, Joe Larson objected to the presence of Andrews Herman being the city commission had not officially voted to approve her appointment prior to the hearing.

Ross retired last month after reaching a settlement with the city of Valley City. Ross was a police officer for the city for 38 years and the last 11 as its police chief.