Calaveras County Board Of Supervisors Approves Expert Witnesses

Vanessa Turner – MML Calaveras Bureau

San Andreas, CA — Calaveras County Counsel Jim Jones has the go-ahead to hire expert witnesses to shore up the county´s defense against a lawsuit filed by an area developer.

The Board of Supervisors granted approval in a closed session Tuesday.

San Andreas attorney Ken Foley filed suit on behalf of developer Guy Meyer in July of 2004 after the board created the countywide Road Impact Mitigation program which charges developers fee´s for their projects´ impact on local roads. The suit contends that the program is unconstitutional.

Board approval is required for expert witness contracts of more than $5000. Jones says those contracts could include traffic engineers and economic experts.

A trial is scheduled for November 17th, although Jones believes there´s a good chance it will be continued.