Sharp questions if firing was valid

Fired Great Northern Fair Manager Mike Sharp questions whether his firing last week was done in a valid meeting.

He is asking interested people to come to the Great Northern Fair Board’s regular meeting Tuesday night.

In a statement issued Friday, said he understands there was no notice of the meeting Thursday at which the board voted to fire him.

“It is my understanding there was no published notice, and it was not posted anywhere that I’m aware of, so I don’t know if it was a valid meeting or not,” Sharp said.

He said he believes the issues will be discussed at Tuesday’s meeting of the fair board at 5:30 p.m. at the Havre-Hill County Library. Meetings are usually held at the Hill County Courthouse, he said. But the agenda lists this meeting as being held at the library.

Nothing related to the Sharp firing is on the agenda for Tuesday’s board meeting.

“Anyone who has an interest in the Great Northern Fairgrounds should attend the meeting to get more information and provide comments to the board,” Sharp said in his statement.

Alma Seidel, fair board chair, told the Havre Daily News last week that she has been advised by Hill County Attorney Gina Dahl that there was no need to announce the special meeting held last Thursday because it involved personnel.

Seidel said she wanted to speak about the firing, but had been advised not to.

The newspaper has filed under the state’s open meetings and public access laws for documents relating to the firing.

Hill County Commission Chair Mike Wendland replied with an informal response saying that the newspaper knew more about Sharp’s firing than he did.

Seidel has not responded and has not been available for comment since Thursday