Kittredge assumes sewer seat despite row
Photo by Michael Clapp
Bill Kittredge, director of the student advocate office, was appointed to the
Metropolitan Wastewater Management commission this summer.
By Mike Sims
Of the Emerald
Bill Kittredge, director of the Universi
ty Office of Student Advocacy, became a
Lane County lay representative on the
Metropolitan Wastewater Management
Commission Aug. 9.
Kittredge was appointed to a three
year term on the MWMC in June by the
Lane County Commission, which
selected him from a list of six applicants.
He replaces Gary Wright, who applied
for reappointment after seven years on
the panel.
County commissioner Peter DeFazio
praised Kittredge as a “longtime wat
chdog and critic” of the MWMC. "(The
MWMC) operates without much public
scrutiny, which is part of its problem,”
DeFazio said. “Hopefully, Bill will bring
some scrutiny to bear on the
commission.”
DeFazio expressed a belief that the
MWMC is composed of “get along-go
along” types of people, and said, "Bill is
definitely not that sort of person.”
Chris Larson, MWMC chair and
Springfield city councilor, expressed a
similar opinion of Kittredge, but not in
favorable tones. Larson called Kittredge
“an obstructionist . . . unable to
cooperate with people.”
Larson disagreed with the manner in
which Kittredge voiced protests against
MWMC operations. In April 1983, when
the commission took charge of
Springfield sewage disposal, it raised
monthly user fees from $4 to $10.50. Kit
tredge subsequently informed the city of
Springfield and the Springfield Utility
Board in writing that he was
withholding payment of his monthly
sewer bill in protest against the rate hike
and what he deemed to be mismanage
ment of the regional wastewater
program.
Kittredge says that after an auditing
firm issued a document which substan
tiated many of his claims against the
MWMC, the city of Springfield essential
ly ignored his refusal to pay the monthly
sewer fee.
In June, the city of Springfield notified
Kittredge that it had turned over his ac
count to a collection agency. Kittredge
then made good on nearly 11 months
worth of overdue sewer bills.
The city of Springfield and the SUB
handle billing and other administrative
affairs for the MWMC.
“It doesn’t bother me as much that he
didn’t pay his bill as that he wasn’t more
open about it,” Larson said. “It seems to
me that if you were making a public
statement of that sort, you’d want it to be
more public.”
Kittredge said he intends to serve on
the MWMC with an eye toward the
public. He hopes to make several
changes that will facilitate public
knowledge of MWMC operations, as
well as encourage public input on com
mission policy.
“I think its imperative that the
citizenry be given a full accounting of
the commission and its operations,” Kit
tredge said.
Another credibility problem for the
MWMC rises, Kittredge said, because of
the panel’s usual meeting time: 7 a.m.
on the first Thursday of each month.
“That isn’t the most convenient time for
working citizens,” Kittredge said.
He also noted that the commission set
aside a period for public comment at the
end of the meeting agenda. Kittredge
said he will try to change both cir
cumstances, as well as suggest that
meetings be held at various sites
throughout the community, in hope of
drawing more citizens into the process.
Kittredge said he applied for the com
mission seat with the “full support” of
ASUO Pres. Julie Davis. He says he
doesn’t think his appointment to the
wastewater commission will interfere
with his duties as director of the Univer
sity student advocates office.
Third Annual Pacific Northwest
Computer Graphics
Conference
October 29-30, 1984
"APPLICATIONS ON THE LEADING EDGE"
Eugene Conference Center &
Hult Center for the Performing Arts
For information, write or call
Conference Manager
Continuation Center/333 Oregon Hall
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403
This year's exciting two-day Conference will feature presentations by Internationally
recognized researchers, teachers, users, and developers of computer graphics technologies
There will be an extensive Trade Exposition where vendors from around the country will display
and demonstrate various hardware and software products ranging in sophistication, including
work stations, microcomputers, plotters, printers and peripherals. The traditional Monday
Evening Film and Video Show will present both historic and the latest state-of-the-art computer
animation works, including many pieces premiered at this past July's world renowned
SIGGRAPH '84 Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, New for this year will be a stimulating
series of applications-focused workshops and the "hands-on micro-graphics computer lab ”.
This year’s Non-Commercial Exhibition will feature hard copy, stills, slides, film video, and real
time displays generated by users of computer graphics from Europe, the Orient and the United
States.
REGISTRATION Information: (503) 686-4231
Discounts on registration fees will be given to “early bird" registrants from the University of
Oregon including students, faculty and staff. Conference participants may register for one or
both days with fees including admission to General Sessions, the Monday Evening Film and
Video Show, Non-Commercial Exhibition, and Trade Exposition ranging from $20.00to $70.00.
Workshop registration and fees are separate ranging from $15.00 to $5Q0Q Non-registrants
are invited to tour the Non-Commercial Exhibits in the Eugene Conference Center and the Huft
Center for the Performing Arts.
ACADEMIC CREDIT
One hour of University of Oregon academic credit is available to all full-time University of
Oregon students. Register in Mac Court with the Department of Architecture and Allied Arts,
course AAA 410G (TLN 7298). A handout describing the course requirements and the official
Conference brochure will be available at the registration table or in the Continuation Center,
333 Oregon Hall. For information call 686-4231