Port Angeles City Council unsure when it will discuss community concerns
By Paige Dickerson, Peninsula Daily News
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"We have no time frame set," Braun said on Wednesday.
After some 15 Port Angeles residents scolded the council and asked for explanations on Tuesday, City Councilwoman Karen Rogers moved to have an open discussion.
City Attorney Bill Bloor reminded the council of its policy of refraining from response to public comments immediately after they were made, and the council agreed to a public discussion sometime in the future.
Braun said he doesn't know when that will be.
"We want to do due diligence to this subject matter.
"I wouldn't want to hazard a guess on a time frame."
City Manager Mark Madsen resigned on July 9, citing hostile working conditions and a rift in the council, saying he would stay no later than Sept. 1.
After a June 30 executive session, Madsen had issued two four-page memos in which he referred to "increasingly open and destructive display of disrespect for fellow council members."
He also accused one or more council members of interfering with personnel and labor issues and with two police investigations.
He named no council members.
Council members and Madsen remained tight-lipped on specific issues on Wednesday.
Deputy Mayor Betsy Wharton, and Council members Dan Di Guilio, Don Perry, Larry Williams and Cherie Kidd said they had no more comment on the concerns Madsen brought up.
Rogers did not return telephone calls requesting comment on Wednesday.
Madsen was not available for comment on Wednesday.
Kidd apology
Kidd apologized to her fellow council members during Tuesday's meeting.
"I would like to apologize to Mr. Williams and the council for the demonstration that you objected to," Kidd said.
Her apology came after Williams requested that the minutes for the July 24 meeting be amended to include an action that Kidd took.
During a public hearing on the Capital Facilities Plan and Transportation Improvement Plan, a resident, Loren Olsen, testified about the south side of the road in front of his house on Highland Avenue, Williams said.
Olsen wanted it repaved, saying that parts of the road were crumbling, resulting in large pieces of asphalt falling off, Williams said.
"At the end of the period, Ms. Kidd reached down and brought down a large chunk of asphalt," Williams said.
"I objected to her demonstration and asked that she be gaveled out of order, and the mayor did gavel her out of order.
"We're not supposed to engage in stuff back and forth during public comment period or during a public hearing, and we've all been warned about that— several times."
He said he asked that the incident be added to the minutes so that it wouldn't be "buried and then no one would realize what had happened.
"We are under such scrutiny right now and because it was an extraordinary action, I felt it was appropriate."
The minutes were passed unanimously as part of the consent agenda with the amendment suggested by Williams.
Kidd declined to comment further on the meeting on Wednesday, saying she was caring for her mother, who was critically ill.
Facilitators researched
At the June 30 executive session, the council requested that the staff research facilitators to help it work better together, Braun has said.
At the Tuesday meeting, Madsen told council members he and other staff had found some facilitation methods and placed them in their mailboxes.
Suggestions include:
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: July 16. 2008 9:00PM