voice
vernonia’s
june
2007
Vernonia Citizens Show Support for City Staff
Approximately 100 citizens turned out at the Vernonia
City Hall on Monday May 21, to show support for
City Administrator M.R. “Dick” Kline and his staff.
Eight individuals, including elected officials, city staff
members, and citizens took the microphone to express
their support for Kline, and talk about their view of his
job performance.
The rally was organized by citizens who were
concerned that Kline has been facing unwarranted
criticism from the local press, and had become the
subject of misleading statements made by individu-
als. City staff has been under fire as well and has been
working under significant distress for weeks.
The rally was kicked off by Mayor Sally
Harrison, who welcomed the crowd and introduced
the speakers. Among the speakers in support of Kline
were County Commissioner Tony Hyde, Jim Tierney
from Community Action Team (CAT), Parks Commit-
tee member Casey Mitchell, City Councilor Shirlee
Daughtry, Planning Commission Chair Dan Brown
and Community Learning Center Director Jessica
Jones. Tierney, who works closely with many city
officials and staff in his position with CAT, stated
“Dick Kline is the best city Administrator I have ever
worked with.” Citizens held signs that read “We Love
Vernonia,” “Vernonian’s for a Bright Future,” and
“Dick Kline – We Support You.” A petition was circu-
lated and signed, expressing support for city staff.
Kline has been criticized in the local media
recently for his inability to give satisfactory answers
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to questions about the city’s financial situation. In
addition, local media sources have complained that
the city is not responding to their requests for public
records, and that the media is being over–charged
for the preparation of those requested documents.
Kline has expressed dissatisfaction with the
current situation, and in his “ability to effectively
perform my duties,” due to these distractions. In
meetings with city officials he has stated that he
may not stay in Vernonia. This prompted a quick
response from rally organizers, who instigated the
gathering on short notice through emails, phone
calls, face-to-face conversations and flyers.
Kline came to Vernonia last year as in-
terim City Manager, and was hired permanently two
months later, after City Administrator Robin Bassett
left the position. Kline inherited a budget that was
facing shortfalls, and several community projects that
were under-funded, including the wastewater treat-
ment facility, the Community Learning Center, and
the Bicycle/Pedestrian sidewalk project on OA Hill.
When asked later to comment on Kline’s
performance as City Administrator, Mayor Sally
Harrison said, “The decision to hire Dick Kline was
the best decision I’ve ever made. I can go in at any
time and get answers to my questions. He is a joy to
work with.”
Kline, in the midst of preparing the city
budget for next year, has not announced any deci-
sions about his future in Vernonia.
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