Hailey Mayor Rick Davis has taken some heat for holding a meeting of concerned citizens at his home in Deerfield earlier this month. He also got a few names of people wanting to join the group.
Attendees to the "Mayor's Advisory Committee" meeting included Bob MacLeod, builder Brian Bothwell, architect Jay Cone, Hailey Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jim Spinelli, real estate agent Julie Evans, attorney Martin Flannes, landscaper Peter Lobb and former fireman and P&Z member Rob Thomas. Several others were invited but did not attend.
E-mails to the group were sent by Robin Crotty, an administrative assistant at Hailey City Hall.
The attending committee members threw out topics without a formal agenda. Davis compiled a list of these issues on a yellow pad, while attendees enjoyed hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer.
Davis said last week that the mayor's office got calls from "six or seven people" concerned that the meeting was inappropriate.
"Some thought we were making decisions behind closed doors, which of course we were not," Davis said. "Others thought we should not have been serving alcohol."
Davis said he selected the invitees for the advisory committee because they have attended city meetings, written letters or blogs, and "otherwise been involved in the well-being of the city."
"I also got two e-mails from people who want to join the committee," said Davis, who plans to change the name to the "Mayor's Information-Gathering Committee."
"I'm taking the names of people interested in being on the list. If it gets too big for my house, I will have to hold the meetings at City Hall."
