By GARRET JAROS/Lincoln Chronicle
WALDPORT – Some who attended Waldport’s city council meeting Thursday said they “had come to watch the fireworks” and others “to see the show” after the regularly scheduled meeting was cancelled two weeks ago out of concern clashes between opposing groups might lead to mayhem.
But there were no fireworks and there was no show.
The meeting marked the return of Mayor Heide Lambert whom the council had unanimously voted to remove from office during an April 3 public hearing but was then reinstated May 8 by Lincoln County’s presiding judge pending a legal review.
Anticipation of a large turnout and a spillover of tensions from the cancelled meeting – which left some community members fuming on social media that their voices were being suppressed – had the meeting moved from council chambers at city hall to the community center to accommodate a larger turnout.
Three Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies sat at the back of the room.
Adding to the possible volatility of the meeting were social media posts this week by council president Greg Dunn who said he was writing on his own behalf as he invited the community to express themselves at the meeting and then called out Lambert for having questionable motives while also rehashing the recent history of clashes between the city and two vocal community groups – Beachcomber Days and a contingent from the Township 13 neighborhood.
Dunn’s post in turn provoked a reaction by opponents on social media – some of who are promoting a recall of everyone on the council except the mayor.
Whether the tempest of contention had blown itself out on social media or the calm at the meeting was simply the eye of the storm or whether the general public is just fed up with hearing about it remains to be seen. But only five of the 44 people who eventually trickled into the meeting availed themselves of the public comment period.
Before they spoke however Lambert addressed the room.
“Hello and welcome everyone,” she said. “I just want to thank everyone for coming. This is an amazing turnout, so thank you so much … I just want to let you know that I’m very happy to see all of you. And very happy to be in my chair.”
Lambert then opened the meeting to public comment and made clear the council would not respond but just listen. Two speakers continued to press their case that city-contracted dump trucks do not have a legal right to pass through their Township 13 neighborhood. Another spoke in support of the council and city staff. Another challenged whether the law required he provide his real name when addressing council.
Only Karun Olson, a former council member and mayoral candidate, presented a laundry list of concerns about how the city is managed.
“Several months ago I asked the city to bring in an outside mediator or investigator to address the serious issues involving volunteer groups and city staff,” Olson said. “I was told such action could lead to someone ending up in handcuffs. My response is simple, if something that serious has happened then we absolutely need an investigation. Protecting the city means ensuring accountability, not avoiding it.”
Olson went on to say problems could have been avoided if city staff had training in conflict resolution and a willingness to participate in mediation. She also said the city has “crossed into dangerous territory” when city staff makes inquiries into a volunteer’s background.
Olson then enumerated concerns about the public works department and its funds, the licenses and certifications of water treatment plant employees, the city’s overdue audit, the lag time in getting council minutes posted online and the city manager’s right to review incoming mail addressed to council members.
“The question is, will this council finally become proactive in restoring trust, transparency and lawful governance?” Olson asked. “Or will you continue to rubber stamp whatever is handed to you by the city manager? Understand your ability as elected leaders and if you cannot fulfill them, step aside so others can.”
Following the public comment period, the mayor asked councilors if they had any comments or concerns. Councilor Jerry Townsend praised city staff for dealing with conflict over the years and thus found the need for conflict-resolution training invalid.
Lambert then asked fellow councilors how to get an item on the agenda. After some discussion, Woodruff replied that two councilors can ask for an issue to be on the agenda. Lambert then asked how a community member can get an item on the agenda and was told they just need to ask. Woodruff then said it seemed Lambert was probably responding to Township 13 resident Todd Swift’s repeateded requests to get its right-of-way issue on the agenda.
“But as we explained time after time after time, he wanted us to settle a legal question about whether we have an easement or we don’t have an easement,” Woodruff said. “That isn’t what we do. We’re not lawyers.”
“Well, it seems like today by his public comment he is asking us to review these documents,” Lambert said.
Woodruff and Dunn responded they can review them all day but do not have the legal capabilities to make a determination whether they are correct are not.
“So if someone in the community wants to just bring the information to us and be on the agenda to share something, we tell them that they can’t be on the agenda?” Lambert said.
“No, that’s a different thing Heide, you know that,” Woodruff replied.
“I’m just clarifying,” Lambert said. “I would just like the people to know, if they have a concern, how do they get it on our agenda? And I’m hearing that they just come and make a public comment and ask.”
“Right, and if we don’t do it for that meeting, it’s for a future meeting because we don’t just make spontaneous decisions on a matter,” Woodruff said.
“Well, my understanding in the rule book was that if two councilors during the meeting do want to put an item on the agenda from public comment, we can do that in the same meeting,” Lambert said.
Woodruff concluded by saying she did not know if that is correct but that the reason council tries not to do it is because some issues take time to research so an educated decision can be reached. Councilor Michelle Severson said she was also unaware of the rule. Lambert said she would show them all the rule later in the meeting before moving on with other council business.
- Garret Jaros covers the communities of Yachats, Waldport, south Lincoln County and natural resources issues for the Lincoln Chronicle, formerly YachatsNews, and can be reached at GJaros@YachatsNews.com
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