PORT TOWNSEND — Mayor Kees Kolff and fellow City Council members were criticized long and hard Monday night during a public comment session that lasted more than two hours.
A sampling of the ire:
One day Port Townsend will become so white-collared that workers will have to drive an hour just to clean the toilet bowls of the rich, said the sister of a Makah hereditary chief.
A nonstop line of people — including Makah tribal member Terri McQuillen of Port Townsend — rose from their seats, stood behind a podium, and lashed Kolff and the council.
The crowd, topping 65, packed City Hall.
Some heckled municipal officials from the floor.
One person asked the mayor to step aside.
“At what point did you lose control,” asked another, Don Fristoe, of Kolff.
Some audience members wore bright green neon signs that apparently mocked Councilman Geoff Masci and stated: “Hairy Legged Broads for Masci,” and “Democrats for Masci.”
Critics from every bent
Whether they were talking about a proposed Victorian hardware distribution center or nuclear disarmament, economic development or council’s parliamentary procedure, everybody who spoke Monday night criticized the council.
“Put your personal agendas in your back pocket and just do the right thing for Port Townsend,” said one resident, Bill Metzer.
“It’s a shame so few of you have so much say over my life,” added Codi Halliday, whose husband was born in Port Townsend.
“This council is so wrapped up in petty crap, it can’t get down to business.
The meeting began at 6:30 p.m.
The public comment segment of the agenda was continuing past 9 p.m.
Five-minute recess
Within the first hour, the mayor called for a five-minute recess because of public heckling.
He even threatened to cancel the meeting if the public didn’t follow the council’s rules.
The residents began to line up after Kolff suggested that Port Townsend resident Bernie Arthur restrict his comments about commercial property to a later portion of the meeting.
“I sit here and look at seven council members,” McQuillen told them.
“Six are white-collar workers.”
Vern Garrison, another resident, said children are going hungry every day while some council members debate issues like global nuclear threat.
“If you don’t want comments laced with contempt, stop your contemptuous comments,” he said.