PORT ANGELES — A fine line between “rubber-stamps” versus regulations that are too stringent was discussed at a forum for candidates for Clallam County’s top land use office this week.
About 40 people attended the forum at the Port Angeles Business Association breakfast Tuesday morning.
Four of the five candidates for the Clallam County Department of Community Development director post, which is the only such position in the nation that is elected, spoke about why they were qualified for it. Sean Ryan, co-owner of America’s Finest Fire and Restoration Co. in Port Angeles, did not attend.
The DCD director’s salary is between $62,211 and $70,878 annually, depending on years in office.
The Aug. 17 top two primary election will narrow the field of DCD director candidates to two for the Nov. 2 general election.
Incumbent John Miller emphasized his experience in the post.
Alan Barnard, associate broker and owner of Re/Max Performance Team in Port Angeles, spoke of his experience on the other side of the counter because of his background in real estate.
He has said he would set aside his career in real estate.
Tim Wollett, a county planner from 1997 to 2004, said he had experience on both sides of the issue.
A Port Angeles native, he worked full-time for the Green Crow timber products company in Port Angeles before being laid off in January and now is an on-call permitting consultant for the company.
Sheila Roark Miller, a 20-year employee of the department, became the county’s first woman building inspector in 1992.
She became a certified building code and fire code official in 2006.
She emphasized her technical experience as well as the fact that her family has lived and owned land in the area for more than 100 years.
Ryan has said that if elected, his partner, Rob Bourns of Port Angeles, would take over control of 90 percent of their company.
Kaj Ahlburg, vice president of the Port Angeles Business Association, asked the candidates to talk about how stringently they would impose regulations.
“There is a whole spectrum that one could operate on,” Ahlburg said.
“On one end there is rubber stamping anything that comes by and — as I saw in upstate New York when I was dealing with the local counterpart to the DCD,” he said.
“There are also regulations that included what it could look like, how it was done.
“I ended up moving all the across the country to here because I felt like I was being pecked to death by a thousand ducks.”
“I think we strike the right balance” now, John Miller said.
“We have not denied a permit [since I’ve taken office].
“Sometimes it takes a while, but I think we do get that balance.”
Sheila Roark Miller, who is not related to John Miller, said she would improve the timeliness of the permits being issued by cross-training staff so that conflicting information isn’t given to those seeking permits.
“The staff probably wouldn’t like it, but I would also like each person in the staff to go through the process of getting a permit themselves, so they know what it is like,” she said.
Barnard said he approved of how things were done, but that he would work on attitude.
“Sometimes you get really helpful answers, but sometimes there are roadblocks and a lack of creative thinking,” he said.
“I don’t think the process is totally broken or needing to be fixed, but a culture of rewarding folks who listen and think creatively to help find the answers is needed.”
Wollett affirmed that the permitting process could never be “rubber stamped,” but that he would work for more consistency of instructions.
“I would really like for a staff member to sit down and help them fill out a permit,” he said.
“Would that be more time consuming or would it be more time consuming to have them come back again and again?
“I know it is a lot to ask but in the long run it might be beneficial for both parties.”
Barnard, Wollett and John Miller also sparred over whether or not to have an open-door policy.
Roark Miller did not say what her policy would be.
Barnard said he would be available not only for employees but also for the public.
“I would have an open-door policy for people who need to redress a grievance because perhaps they don’t think they are getting all the answers that they need,” he said.
“I believe this is primarily a management job,” he added.
“The director is beholden to the people who elected them and they need to be doing what they need to do to facilitate the job, which is primarily a service.”
John Miller said he has an open-door policy for the employees who report directly to him.
“Those five people who report to me, I have an open-door policy for, but not for all 30 people on the staff,” he said.
“I expect those people who report to me to handle each of their departments in a responsible way,” he added.
Wollett said he would be available so he could learn more.
“I would have that policy because I think we need to hear when we are wrong,” he said.
“I always say that I love to be wrong because I learn something new.”
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.