It was clear who was acting more like the mayor, than the mayor who seem to be riding the coattails of Councilmember Sissi Burch who took charge of the debate regarding the decision of the first ethics board committee suggestion of admonishing Deputy Kidd for her role on the Feb. 2nd meeting.
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| Council member Burch From the City Council web page. |
But, before I get into this let's first look at some background information...again, and couple of news article about the affair Tuesday night which Burch took the bull by the horns and acted as arbitrator toward a solution, sparing the city perhaps of any more embarrassment.
Recap on the background of the Cherie Kidd's ethics complaint filed by Marolee Smith as shared by the city staff memo in the council agenda packet on Tuesday:
Background/Analysis: Four complaints have been filed against City Councilmembers since
February, all alleging that council members violated the City’s Code of Ethical Conduct as
outlined in Chapter 2.78 of the Port Angeles Municipal Code. As directed by the municipal code,
the Council assemble 3-member boards from a pool of pre-approved applicants to serve on
Boards to receive, investigate and make recommendations for disposition of the complaints.
Complaints 3 and 4 were ultimately withdrawn, and therefore no further action was required of
Council. Of the two ethics complaints that went forward, Boards (1) and (2) submitted their
written findings of fact, conclusions, and recommendations for disposition to the Council.
On September 6, Council voted 5-0 to accept the recommendation of Board (2) regarding a
complaint against Deputy Mayor Kidd and Councilmember Gase. Despite extended discussion,
and several votes on various motions, Council was unable to reach consensus on any action
regarding the recommendation of Board (1) regarding a complaint against Deputy Mayor Kidd.
Council agreed to table the matter and bring it back a month later. Council now must determine
what action, if any, to take in the disposition of the complaint. If Council chooses to take action,
Chapter 2.78.080 outlines Council’s options. That section is included as Attachment 2.
Funding Overview: There was funding associated with the legal representation of
Councilmembers in defending themselves during the process associated with Boards 1 and 2,
however, there is no necessary funding anticipated for Council’s review and disposition of the
complaint. The total amount spent on outside legal representation was $20,000.
During the meeting the council decided on: 1. Admonition. An admonition shall be a verbal statement approved by the City Council and made to the individual by the Mayor, or his or her designee, or if the complaint is against the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, or his or her designee. The statement shall be included in the minutes of the City Council meeting at which it is approved
Page I-1 of packet
Editorial Note: One of the members of the ethics board who handled the case former Judge, Grant Meiner wasn't very amused by the outcome, he was quoted in the PDN saying: “Obviously, it was not time well-spent,” he said. “I’m sorry that the city has this process and that it apparently didn’t work very well. “It seems to me that it was an effort that didn’t lead to anything, and that leads me to some frustration.”
Editorial Note: I wrote some emails to the city council members asking for their comments regarding the article posted in the PDN about the events during Tuesday's meeting. One council member did respond, Sissi Burch, who wrote in response to Meiner's statement in the PDN, wrote the following email to this publication: I felt awful that Grant Meiner felt his long hours and thoughtful assessment of the ethics complaint was wasted. I wrote to all our ethics board members that addressed this complaint and I said the following.
It is with deep sorrow and sadness that I was not able to get your recommendations implemented. It was not what I would have wanted, but I could not get the necessary votes to push your recommendation forward and we needed to act and not drag this ethics complaint any longer.
I hope you can forgive me for needing to compromise. I want to thank you personally for the long hours and the well thought out conclusions you made in our ethics case. Please know that your time was not wasted and that I sincerely appreciate all you have done on behalf of the city.
Sincerely, Sissi
Editorial Note: Compromise! That's for sure, Burch using her negotional skills, something you would see in the United Nations, managed to talk the other council members down from their positions at lease to the point she would get the majority of the council to go along with it. Council members Whetham, and Merideth, wasn't buying the compromise, notably Merideth wasn't in favor of any compromise other than removing Kidd from the deputy mayor posting. Whetham had a laundry list of motions he made from removal of her position as deputy mayor, censure, admonishment, all failed. The council looked as though they were going to be in yet another stand off. Burch must have seen the writing on the wall, she kept pleading with the board to come up with something or else face further negative press which were sitting in the crows nest just waiting to swoop down on what remain of the city's reputation. It gotten to the point that even some outside media types were noting it, as in the Seattle Times article making mention of it in the headline: Is Port Angeles ready to realize its potential?
Quote from the article posted in the Seattle Times: " The most-recent political flashpoint: a protracted, stultifying battle over public-water fluoridation. Determined fluoride opponents waged a decade long campaign that culminated in an attempt to toss out the toothy city council and its “Fluoride Four,” of which Downie was a member. Fluoridation recently was suspended pending a public advisory vote next year. But the fight became so ugly that The Peninsula Daily News proclaimed, in an exasperated editorial, “The issue has gone beyond fluoridation to the question of whether democracy works in Port Angeles.”
Editorial note: Burch must have been referring the the Times article when she so earnest in coming up with a compromise when two council members, were out for their pound of flesh, while two more appeared to be just wishing the whole thing be dropped entirely, or ignore the ethics board recommendation, Gase, and Collins. As for the Mayor, from what I witnessed seemed willing to let Burch take charge of the debate, he seemed to also put this behind the councils plate, but again it was Burch who was leading the effort in coming up with the compromise.
However not everyone was satisfied by the compromise...
Editorial Note: I also wrote the Marolee Smith, who filed the complaint against Kidd which the ethics board one ruled on, she wrote this reply to my email:
I am disgusted by the entire affair.
Waste of everyone's time.
Add to that evidently no one knows what the word "admonish" means. (Time to crack open a dictionary Collins/Gase.)
This was a great waste of time, and I deeply apologize to the city staff, Frank Prince, Danetta Rutten and Grant Meiner.
My only intent was to have Ms Kidd apologize and atone for the embarrassment caused to the speaker she interrupted on 2/2/16, and to those in attendance who had to witness her downright insolence with her gavel-banging hissy-fit.
What is the first thing you teach children so that they can be upstanding members of society? To apologize -- no matter if an injury was intentional or not.
Evidently Ms. Kidd's mother just gave her a pat on the head and a ready excuse "do the best you can".
(I'd think in 70 years old she would have learned some empathy, decorum and the intelligence to take responsibility for the good of ALL, by now. Evidently NOT.)
I am shocked by the degree of boorishness, impertinence, and vulgarity that is deemed acceptable by our council in regards to the actions of the Deputy Mayor.
I am deeply embarrassed for the citizens of Port Angeles.
Marolee
p.s. The words I spoke at the first comment period:
On November 6, 2012, four of you voted to adopt ordinance 3466, the Ethics Code. The motion was read by Mayor Kidd, moved by Council member Downie, seconded by Bruch. The motion was carried unanimously. The Deputy Mayor was Collins.
Evidently you discuss, amend, and vote for things you do not believe in or are willing to follow. So, what’s the point? What is the point of anything you do?
This does not inspire confidence.
I am appalled by your actions.
Two meetings ago, two of you, sat back in your seats, arms crossed, like indolent children. One member waffled. The other three wanted to act. Be adults. Act impartially, given the evidence.
Your actions besmirch the difficult task the volunteer Ethics Board Members put into their serious decision. I am ashamed. You might as well spit on Frank Prince, Grant Meiner, and Danetta Rutten.
My Mother used to say “don’t ruin a perfectly good apology with an excuse.”
What is the difference between an excuse and an apology?
An APOLOGY is an expression of remorse for having done something that harmed another.
An EXCUSE is an explanation to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgement.
OUR FEELINGS WERE HURT. This has never been acknowledged. The speaker interrupted was insulted. Citizens in council chambers were aghast. The resulting confusion by all -- harmed the soul of our city.
An apology acknowledges unacceptable behavior happened. To admit fault restores dignity to the people offended. It begins a healing process.
A SINCERE apology shows that you take responsibility for your actions. Apologies take courage. Wise and inspiring leaders know an apology rebuilds trust.
To NOT apologize you damage your relationship, your reputation, and harm your leadership ability. Animosity and tension created is toxic.
An APOLOGY is NOT:
· “you’ve learned”
· “you ran the meeting according to..”
· or, an ad in the paper thanking your supporters
This is not doing better, it is doing much worse.
I request that the council not insult the Ethics Board, further, and, as no apology to the people has been forthcoming, to do what is right.
Verbally admonish Ms. Kidd, and strip her of the position as Deputy Mayor.
Related stories:
After deadlocking on a vote to admonish the deputy mayor for abruptly adjourning a Feb. 2 meeting, council members voted 4-2 to read a general statement to the public.---PDN
Quote from Article Posted, The written statement which the mayor read on Tuesday: “This council will respect the public and follow Open Public Meetings Act protocol for adjourning meetings, and we will do our best to be tolerant, patient and respectful of all,” the statement said.
Another quote from the article Posted: Councilwoman Sissi Bruch made the motion to approve the statement. It was seconded by Councilman Brad Collins. Unless the council did something, “we are going to be a laughingstock,” Bruch said. “We really need to move forward.”
Editorial Note: Finally on the media coverage, only two local outlets ran the story. I looked at the web page of the Port O Call to see what they had to say...not one word about it.
As for Sissi, like it or not she worked that council like a pro, in coming up with a solution that just might start the healing process of the council's faltering reputation.
NOTE PAD:
MEETING ADVISIORY: Port to hold a Timber advisory meeting today starting at 9:30 AM
Agenda highlight: November 11, 2016 Board of Natural Resources Meeting and Possible Testimony
See agenda for further details: http://wa-portofportangeles.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/10072016-188
Port to hold special meeting today to replace their meeting on Monday because of cancelation
the highlight of the agenda: Clallam County Marinas LLC
See agenda for details: http://portofpa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/10072016-189
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