city news
november22
Vernonia City News...
At the November 7, 2011 City Council
Meeting:
Council
Authorizes
RFQ
for
Wastewater
Engineering—Council
authorized the City Administrator to
publish a Request For Qualifications
(RFQ) and begin the process to advertise
for an engineering firm to create pre-
design and final-design documents
for the Wastewater Treatment Project,
based on approval of the RFQ by the
City Attorney and City Engineer.
Council Approves HRA/VEBA for
Non-Union
Employees—Council
Authorized the City Administrator
to create a Health Reimbursement
Account (HRA) Voluntary Employee’s
Beneficiary Association (VEBA) for
non-represented employees. The City
is currently modifying health benefits
to all employees and previously
completed negotiations with AFSCME
union employees and established HRA/
VEBA accounts in lieu of offering a
COLA for those employees. Under that
contract agreement the City provided a
one-time initial contribution of $500 and
a monthly pay-in of $25 per month for
each covered employee. This current
action would establish the same health
benefit for non-represented employees.
The City expects to see a net drop in
costs through this benefit program.
Council Hears Second Reading and
Adopts Ordinances—Council heard
the second reading of Ordinance 878—
establishing the Budget Committee
and prescribing powers and duties,
and Ordinance 879—waiving certain
sections of the development regulations
to allow temporary emergency structures
to be placed in general commercial
zones.
Council
Approves
Amending
Cemetery Fees—Based on a request
from the Vernonia Cemetery Committee,
Council approved Resolution 28-11,
amending the Master Fee Schedule and
allowing increases to fees at the Vernonia
Memorial and Pioneer Cemeteries.
Council Sends Trailer Request Back
to Planner—Council sent a request to
extend a temporary habitation use permit
for an RV back to the City Planner for
more information. On January 13,
2011 the Vernonia Community Church
received approval for their part-time
pastor to live in an RV parked on church
property for six months, in accordance
with city code. That six months has
expired and the church has requested
additional time. Council chose to wait
to make a decision pending further
information.
2011
5
Council Approves Tree Removal
Plan at Airport—Council approved a
plan presented by the Vernonia Airport
Committee to remove some trees that
present a liability, authorizing the City
Administrator to work with volunteers,
including the Free Wheelers Club, to
drop and remove the trees.
Council Grants Discount for Class at
VCLC-- Council approved a request
from the Vernonia Community Learning
Center (VCLC) Committee for a
discounted rate of $180 for a proposed
twelve week Hebrew Language Class
for a group of local citizens. The VCLC
Committee requested and received a
50% discount from the normal non-
profit group rate of $15/hour.
Kay Intends to Sue City of Vernonia
An attorney representing former
Vernonia police officer Michael Kay has
sent a letter to the City of Vernonia ex-
pressing her intent to file a Tort Claim
against the City on Kay’s behalf.
The letter, dated November 4,
2011 and received by the City on No-
vember 7, was addressed to the City of
Vernonia and Mayor Josette Mitchell.
The letter states that it is intended to
serve as formal notice of Kay’s intent to
sue the City of Vernonia, “...for actions
of Vernonia employees and agents taken
against Officer Kay resulting in his un-
lawful and unconstitutional termination
from employment.” The letter is signed
by Michelle R. Burrows, an attorney
whose office is located in Portland.
Kay’s employment with the City
of Vernonia was terminated on June 27,
2011 after a 4-0 vote by the Vernonia
City Council. He had been placed on
paid administrative leave on March 21,
2011. The Oregon Department of Public
Safety Standards and Training (DPSST)
recommended revocation of Kay’s Po-
lice certifications for life on May 19,
2011 and that decision was upheld on
July 28 th .
Kay and Burrows, in their let-
ter to the City, state they intend to name
Vernonia City Administrator Bill Haack,
former Police Chief Frank Grace, cur-
rent Interim Police Chief Mike Conner,
Justice of the Peace Wally Thompson,
Kathy Peck, Dian Rubanoff, former
Mayor Sally Harrison, and Vernonia Po-
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lice Officer Shawn Carnahan in the suit. in the letter. “Until it exists I can’t com- other city staff who may be called upon
In the letter, Burrows states that ment on it,” said Haack.
to provide information or who might be
she intends to litigate pending employ-
According to Haack, Citycounty deposed to testify in the case.
ment arbitration for Officer Kay and Insurance Services (CIS) will be respon-
Haack said he did not know
will be filing the lawsuit in federal court sible for handling the litigation for the when the City would have more infor-
before the arbitration is scheduled. Bur- City. “A civil action brought against mation about the intended lawsuit. “I
rows states that in the lawsuit she will the City is covered under the City’s in- have no time frame for whether this will
seek back pay, front pay, and emotional surance policy,” said Haack. Haack actually be realized as a civil tort claim
damages for loss of an entire career. Ac- said direct costs to the City for this suit and if so, when,” said Haack.
cording to the letter the suit will be in the would come in the
“high six figures.”
form of indirect
Vernonia City Administrator staff support to
Why not pay off your mortgage before
Bill Haack, when asked about the let- CIS from the City
he heads off to college?
ter on November 15 th , said the City Attorney as well
has not yet received any official notice as any time from
that a Tort Claim
has been filed,
just the letter of
intent. When
Vernonia
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had any comment
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