Despite lots of vocal opposition, county commission chair says idea of limiting public comment still alive

By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle

NEWPORT – A proposal to limit public comment at Lincoln County commission meetings is still alive despite a wave of opposition Wednesday – including from commissioner Casey Miller who was blocked from voicing his dissent.

Another chaotic commission meeting this week is the latest in an onslaught of conflict – months of contention between commissioners and department heads, resignations, and county employees publicly voicing their grievances at meetings.

In response, commission chair Claire Hall proposed that public comment during meetings relate only to agenda topics. Initially, Hall called for her proposal to be an agenda item at Wednesday’s meeting but opted not to put the discussion on the agenda to allow “more consideration,” she later told the Lincoln Chronicle.

The topic is still open for public input, she said,  but has no formal action is planned.

Hall’s idea earned immediate backlash, letters of opposition, and a wave of commenters at Wednesday’s meeting.

“Statements made in public and recorded on video are much more powerful than an email that may be only seen by the commissioners and can potentially be disregarded,” said Seal Rock resident Jonathan Hoy. “Limiting public discourse to only current agenda items allows the board to avoid and quash what may be important but potentially contentious topics.”

Several members of the Hilltop Patriots, a conservative activist group based in Lincoln City, lifted colorful paper signs that spelled out “Hear, listen to us, we have a voice,” while sitting in the audience.

Hall told the Lincoln Chronicle last week that her suggestion to change the commenting rules is an attempt to limit employees from airing their grievances in public meetings following several contentious meetings in February and April.

District Attorney Jenna Wallace has used the comment period to accuse the county of misconduct, retaliation and corruption involving long-running disputes on personnel actions in her office. Hall has denied the claims and said the county has contacted the Oregon Department of Justice to report Wallace’s behavior.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Trish Miller, a former volunteer in the district attorney’s cold case unit, used the comment time to say that she lost access to the building and was “fired” after she was instructed by Wallace to perform a background check on Wallace’s husband who was looking to fill a district attorney detective position.

Angela Dodds drove from her central Oregon home in Prineville and used the comment time to tell commissioners that she felt Miller’s removal limited the ability of the county to solve the murder of her sister, Kelly Disney, 41 years ago.

Commissioner blocked

Miller has had his own frustrations with the county.

Since September, Miller has been told not to use his courthouse office after allegations he bullied employees and created a toxic work environment with statements at two meetings last year. An outside investigation cleared Miller of the allegations in December – but determined he did release confidential information about former administrator Tim Johnson.

Instead of allowing him to return to the courthouse – five months after that investigation, the county leased an office for him four blocks north of the courthouse. The county has not answered Lincoln Chronicle’s questions about the lease’s cost or duration, but instead asked for a formal records request.

“Why is he being exiled from his own office to a rented space outside of the courthouse?” asked Waldport resident Barbara Davis. “Is that really the best use of our taxpayer dollars?”

After all the members of the public had spoken, Miller asked Hall if he could share his own comments since the usual bi-monthly commissioner reports were no longer verbal.

“I have comments to make, when would you like me to make them?” Miller asked.

But Hall did not allow Miller to speak and ended the meeting with a heated exchange between a member of the audience, who made a comment about wanting to give the middle finger.

“My thought was the public comment period was for the public not for commissioners to hold a press conference,” Hall later told the Lincoln Chronicle.

After the meeting, Miller passed around printed copies of the statement he was hoping to make to a remaining audience after the meeting was adjourned.

“Public comments are, in many ways, the purest form of transparency. It’s how people share their concerns, express their needs, and engage with their government,” Miller’s statement read.

“Historically, this board has not always demonstrated a strong culture of responsiveness to public comment. That needs to change. Rather than restricting dialogue, we should be moving in the opposite direction — toward deeper, more meaningful community engagement.”

There are times when confidentiality is necessary, Miller said. However, this excuse can be weaponized in an “endless legal loop that alienates people.” Miller said through his recent participation in human resources and insurance training and leadership programs he took away a repeating theme – resolution comes with listening.

In an interview after the meeting, Miller said he has been told by some county staff that he is encouraging division and acting unprofessionally.

“I absolutely am not trying to cause trouble just to cause trouble,” he said, “This is an important discussion that needs to happen and it’s going in the opposite direction of what the community wants it to be.”

• Shayla Escudero covers Lincoln County government, education, Newport, housing and social services for Lincoln Chronicle and can be reached at Shayla@LincolnChronicle.org