Nic’s Athletic Committee Must Hold Public Meetings

The attorney for North Idaho College has advised college officials that the meetings of its athletic advisory committee are public meetings and should be held in open forum.

Reporters and other members of the public were asked to leave a meeting two weeks ago so that committee members could discuss matters in private.

After receiving a letter from the attorney for The Spokesman-Review, President Bob Bennett referred the matter to Dana Wetzel, NIC’s counsel.

In the meantime, the athletic committee meetings were held in open forum on Tuesday evenings.

Wetzel advised Bennett in a letter this week that, based on conversation with the state attorney general and a review of Idaho’s open meetings law, the committee meetings should be open to the public.

The committee was assembled at the request of NIC’s Board of Trustees, who are seeking a review of the proper role of athletics at the college.

The committee is expected to make a recommendation to the board regarding the athletic program later this month.

, DataTimes