But, before I get into this you may have noted I changed somethings in this posting. I now included news from the state, and reports from our US Congressional delegating. Oh, I'll continue make comments on some local news stories that already been published if they catch my eye, like the two stories that were posted by the Peninsula Daily News this time around. I have decided to mostly use the agendas and staff reports of various governmental sources locally as fodder for news commentary if a topic is worth making comment on. If not I'll just highlight the topics, like the gems I highlighted below. Some features will be moved to other reports, and some reports will be combined like this one.
I am hoping readers this will give you a better report.
So, without delay here is the low down for this week...
- Third Port Angeles ethics complaint targets city attorney--PDN
Quotes from article posted:
"The complaint “concerns the ethical conduct of [Bloor] in his capacity as city attorney . . . relating to his actions and in actions in connection with his role as a professional advocate for the city, which include his ethical duties owed to the public as his fiduciaries,” the 33-page complaint states."
"Without any council discussion or action, at the start of the meeting the mayor unilaterally and informally attempted to cede his powers and duties as chair of the meeting to [Kidd]” by asking her to do so, Perron said in the complaint."
ref. http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20160226/NEWS/302269973/third-port-angeles-ethics-complaint-targets-city-attorney
Editors Note: Apparently I wasn't the only one taking note on how the mayor who was sick, managed to be on the two way phone during that meeting on Feb. 2, and not able to assume his responsibilities leaving the deputy mayor preform the duties of the mayor during that meeting. If Downie was able to be on the two way phone during that meeting, he should have been well enough to chair that meeting using the two way, not hand off his authority as mayor to the deputy mayor. However, still while the ethic complaints filed cites one of the reasons as acts of behaving in a "professional" manner as one of the reasons for those complaints filed.
Why is it then, one council member who seemed to infer that the deputy mayor was the "fake" mayor, in his comments during that Feb. 2nd meeting has been getting a pass, by both the general public, and the main stream media? Is it because he just happens to be against fluoride he has been given a break?
I think there were a lot of wrongs being done during that meeting on Feb. 2. I think people have put blinders on to cover up miscues by those who have sided with the majority of us who are against the practice of fluoridating our water system. I'm hopeful that council member will do the right thing and offer a public apology to the deputy mayor for those remarks. It's one thing to disagree with someone on a topic, it's another to imply that a position on the council is inferior, or insinuate it's "fake".
- Port of Port Angeles to evaluate candidates for vacant commissioner position today--PDN
Quote from article posted: Nancy Krier, state assistant attorney general for open government, said Thursday she urges government entities to make applications for vacant elected positions public. “The application process is the functional equivalent of a campaign,” she said.
ref. http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20160226/NEWS/302269987/port-of-port-angeles-to-evaluate-candidates-for-vacant-commissioner
See Port Commission agenda for today: http://www.portofpa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/02262016-132?html=true
“Once they take the position, they are in the same shoes as other elected officials.”
Editor's Note: I see I am not the only one that thinks that the names of the applicants should be revealed.
Now here is the quote from Port Commission McAleer letter she wrote to me last week, which I posted to full text earlier this week:
"Peter I respect the work you do and appreciate your involvement but you are wrong when you say the process has been "hush, hush" or insinuate a lack of transparency.
If you have a concern that we're not being transparent or being accountable to the public I'd like you to contact me. I'm absolutely committed to making the hard tough decisions publicly while we adhere to the OPMA and applicants rights to their privacy." ---From email letter last week
Now, I wrote to to McAleer this morning, (Friday) and asked her about the number of applicants that filed, she responded in saying that seven filed since that report I posted last week. I then emailed her for a response to the PDN's report and the statement by Nancy Krier, asked her if she had any response to that statement, she as yet to send an answer. To me readers, withholding names of applicants is just as much an issue of transparency as anything else.
From what I see there are others including an state assistant attorney general agrees with my assessment! That applicants names should be released not be withheld. So, yeah I might have botched up the numbers of applicants, but didn't botch up the notion of transparency extends to releasing names of applicants. Oh by the way one of the applicants did revealed his name on his own accord, according to the PDN article: Steve Burke, part-time executive director of William Shore Memorial Pool and treasurer of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, confirmed Wednesday that he has applied for the position. This leave me with this question will the other six who filed will be so forthcoming? If not, why are they hiding?
WHAT'S ON TAP FOR NEXT WEEK:
COUNTY AGENDA ITEM HIGHLIGHTS: 2a Agreement with Dale E. and Ann Cathrine Nichols for the purchase of an easement for the Carlsborg sewer project 2b Agreement with Duane I. Beland for the purchase of an easement for the Carlsborg sewer project.
See full agenda: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_agenda.pdf
Agenda details: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_packet.pdf
CITY OF PORT ANGELES AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEMS:
Lodging Tax Event Grant Awards
Summary: The City Lodging Tax Committee considered seventeen (17) event grant
applications for Lodging Tax Funding. The Committee has forwarded a recommendation
to City Council for consideration. see page E 37 of agenda packet
2016-2017 LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Re-appoint six (6) representatives to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for terms ending February 28, 2017.
Recommendations for filling the vacant positions are as follows:
Councilmember (1)
Cherie Kidd
Lodging Tax Collector (2)
Holly Dempsey – Olympic Lodge
Robert Utz – Red Lion Hotel
Lodging Tax Recipient (2)
Ryan Malane – Black Ball Ferry Line
Vicki Heckman – Sound Bikes and Kayaks
Citizen-At-Large (3) Non-voting
David Shargel
Vacant
PA Forward Representative (1) Non-voting
Vacant
See full agenda: http://wa-portangeles.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/2836
Editorial Note: You have to wonder folks, with two ethics complaints Kidd is facing, is this a wise move to appoint her? Shouldn't she decline such appointments until she is cleared of any of the ethic complaints she is now facing?
Community Partner Program Application Deadline on Monday 2/29
Applications are due Monday, February 29th at 5pm for the Port of Port Angeles' Community Partner Program. The Port Commission approved the 2016 Community Partner Program in late January as a way to match funds for economic development programs in small cities and non-profits throughout the Port district. Information on the Community Partner Program can be found via the link below.---from the Port of Port Angeles webpage
ref: http://portofpa.com/Index.aspx?NID=295
From our congressional delegation to Washington DC:
With West Coast Salmon Hatcheries Under Threat, Cantwell Demands Accountability From National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Agency’s bureaucratic delays leave majority of Washington salmon hatcheries vulnerable to lawsuits and closures
Murray Calls on Extreme Conservatives to #StopTheSham Ahead of Supreme Court Oral Arguments in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt
OLYMPIA DIGEST: Press releases from state agencies, and politicians.
House construction budget ‘builds a better Washington’
Rep. Kevin Van De Wege Proposes Stronger Penalty Options for Public Disclosure Commission
Hargrove honored for helping families in poverty
New tools make it easier to open a restaurant in Spokane and Spokane Valley
Updating Yahoo!’s air permit for a data center in Quincy
Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards accepting nominations
Public meeting on salmon forecasts moved to new location
Gov. Inslee touts Washington state’s leadership as governors meet in nation’s capital
State disciplines health care providers
Workers who lose limbs will receive state-of-the-art care at new Center of Excellence for Amputations thanks to partnership between Harborview Medical Center and L&I
Wyman announces candidates for Presidential Primary
State fines excavator for digging with an expired utility locate
DAILY DEVOTIONAL:
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
1 John 4:9 NKJV
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