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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2015)
10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2015 Business: More attention has been focused on the Astoria Riverwalk Continued from Page 1A metal. He moved to Astoria four years ago from Portland and four months ago realized his dream of opening his own heavy metal head shop. Gentner’s thin corridor of a store LV¿OOHGZLWKWKHKHDY\SDUDSKHUQDOLD including hard rock and heavy metal vinyl records; jean and leather jack- ets; bongs and pipes; paintings and blankets of anything from Vikings and marijuana leafs to unicorns to topless women; counterculture books and videos and stuffed animal heads Gentner has always been a fan of. ³, ¿JXUHG SHRSOH DURXQG KHUH would like it as much as anywhere else,” Gentner said of opening a niche store in small Astoria. “Some of my best customers are plain-dressed but fanatic.” Robin Dismang said she and her husband Mike moved from Las Ve- gas to Astoria sight-unseen after the opportunity arose to run the new As- toria expansion of Sisters Olives & Nuts, her brother Mitch and sister-in- ODZ-XOLH0DQV¿HOG¶VEXVLQHVVEDVHG in Sisters that opened its second lo- cation May 7 on Commercial Street. 7KH0DQV¿HOGVIHDWXUHERWWOHVRI picked vegetables, garlic, preserves, condiments and other products pri- marily sourced from Oregon, along with a wide selection of nuts. NEW DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORS ‘Everybody walks and jogs on the waterfront. There’s so much foot traffic, it’s ridiculous.’ — Gordon Clement owner of Clemente’s Cafe and Public House Just as she found her way to As- toria on a whim, Dismang said her brother and sister-in-law were eating at Fulio’s Pastaria across the street when they saw the vacant former 4 Seasons Clothing storefront and de- cided they would start their second location there. tenants to open a wine bar, lounge, salon and photo studio, along with the longstanding Rollin’ Thunder Barbe- cue. Next door, Edison Bros. Fish Co. is reopening the former Josephson’s )LVK 6WDWLRQ EXLOGLQJ DV WKHLU ¿UVW brick-and-mortar location. Down the street to the east is the 14th Street Pilot Station, which has On the Riverwalk VHHQDUHFHQWLQÀX[RIQHZEXVLQHVV Commercial Street is still the from gourmet ice cream parlor Frite main drag in Astoria, but more atten- & Scoop last year to the new location tion has focused on the Astoria Riv- for local icon Clemente’s Seafood, erwalk. which opened as Clemente’s Cafe Late last week, the downtown and Public House earlier this month DVVRFLDWLRQ¶V RI¿FH PRYHG IURP WKH after moving from caddy-corner to corner of 12th and Exchange streets the Liberty Theaterin January. to Pier 12 next to Baked Alaska. Gar- Gordon Clement, who owns the QHUVDLGWKHPRYHZLOOKHOSKHURI¿FH restaurant with his wife, Lisa, said the be a better source of information on move was the hardest he’s ever made downtown to people wandering up in the restaurant’s 10-year history. and down the Astoria Riverwalk. But he said the location is perfect, be- On the western edge of the down- tween the laid-back vibe and the high town waterfront, Buoy Beer Co. has visibility. ¿OOHGXSDIRUPHU¿VKSURFHVVLQJSODQW “The trolley goes by,” he said. The owners of the Wet Dog Cafe and “Everybody walks and jogs on the Astoria Brewing Company bought the waterfront. There’s so much foot traf- Pier 11 mall and have agreements with ¿FLW¶VULGLFXORXV´ A number of new businesses have opened, relocated to and expand- ed in downtown Astoria in the first five months of 2015, according to the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association: • Odie B’s, the children’s con- signment store that took over the accounts of predecessor 5 Lil Monkeys, opened at 1255 Commercial St. next to Tempo Gallery. • Columbia Vapes vaping lounge opened at 1268 Commercial St. next to Link’s Outdoor. • Metal Head, a heavy metal head shop, opened next to the Columbia Cafe at 1126 Marine Drive. • Pacific Coast Medical Supply relocated from the corner of 12th Street and Marine Drive to 1062 Marine Drive, formerly Astoria Hemp Works. • The Smoke ’N’ Vape Bloc smoke shop opened in the former Tienda La Costenita Hispanic grocery store next to Christie’s Mallterna- tive, 1159 Marine Drive. • Massage Therapy with Amy Finn and Michelle Malin opened at 42 Seventh St. in the Fisher Bros. Co. building. • Maiden Astoria local and region- al handmade goods shop opened at 255 14th St., next to Gimre’s Shoe Store. • de la Salandra clothing and apparel store opened next to Fulio’s at 1145 Commercial St. • The Shop for Guys & Dolls, a photo studio and salon, opened inside the Pier 11 mall. Following soon in Pier 11 will be a wine bar and a new lounge. • Sisters Olive and Nut Co. opened in the former 4 Seasons Clothing store at 1144 Commercial St. • Albatross restaurant at 225 14th St. expanded into the adjacent former Ambiance home decor storefront. • The Arc Arcade is expanding in the former Deals Too storefront at the corner of 11th and Commercial streets. • Seven Ages NW Apparel & Gifts will open soon 1125 Commer- cial St. • Edison Bros. Fish Co. was aim- ing to open its fish market today in the Josephson Fish Station at the foot of 11th Street. • The Astoria Downtown Historic District Association relocated from the corner of Exchange and 12th streets to No. 1 12th St. next to Baked Alaska on the Astoria Riverwalk. • 4 Seasons Clothing relocated from 1144 Commercial St. to the John Jacob Astor Building on the corner of 14th and Commercial streets. • Clemente’s Seafood relocat- ed from the corner of 12th and Commercial streets and opened as Clemente’s Cafe and Public House in the Pilot House Building at 175 14th St., No. 180. • Party Jesters relocated from the warehouses near Abbey Lane to 1413 Commercial St. in the John Jacob Astor building. • Prana Wellness Center relo- cated from the Cannery Lofts to the former Medical Spa LaCost at 1428 Commercial St. Weston:&RPSODLQWVFRXOGEHXVHGDVHYLGHQFHLQFDVHV¿OHGDJDLQVWKLP Continued from Page 1A dispelled allegations Weston tried to compel staff to engage in a cover-up and he was in- toxicated while on the job. The institute is a member- ship-based organization offering third-party human resources and labor relations assistance to Or- egon cities, counties and special districts. The complaints and report have had no effect on Weston’s employment. He was interim director for more than a year, a candidate for the permanent di- rectorship and still works as the Port’s director of business devel- opment and operations. But it could be used as evi- GHQFH LQ WKH FDVHV ¿OHG DJDLQVW Weston and the Port by the agen- F\¶V IRUPHU ¿QDQFH PDQDJHU Colleen Browne, and facilities manager, Tammie Herman. They made the complaints against :HVWRQ LQ -XO\ DQG ZHUH ¿UHG in November, shortly after new Executive Director Jim Knight was hired. Their suit claims whis- tleblower retaliation, contract breaches, defamation, post-em- ployment retaliation and disabil- ity discrimination. The Daily Astorian original- ly requested the report Jan. 20, but the Port denied the request. Ultimately, Clatsop County Dis- trict Attorney Joshua Marquis reviewed the report and the Port counsel’s recommended redac- tions. He sent a letter to Port counsel April 22 recommending the Port release a redacted copy of the report to the newspaper. Why the report? “The President of the Board of Commissioners received a complaint from Port employ- ees stating that the current In- terim Director has engaged in a pattern of conduct including creating a hostile work environ- ment for staff, conducting work contrary to the directives of the Board of Commissioners and being untruthful in his reporting of Port activities to the Commis- sioners,” wrote Craig Stoelk, an investigator with the institute who authored the report. Weston assumed the interim director role after former Exec- utive Director Hank Bynaker resigned in September 2013. The Port Commission had been interviewing candidates for By- naker’s replacement, including Weston, at the time the com- plaints came in mid-July. Port Commission Chair- man John Raichl reached out to Stoelk later that month. Stoelk wrote Raichl had concerns the complaints were timed to dimin- ish Weston’s candidacy and only seemed to be a continuing issue for former Browne and Herman. Scope of work “Mr. Raichl provided di- rection to me to identify the scope of an investigation,” Sto- elk wrote, pointing out several questions his report sought to answer: • Had Weston attempted to compel employees to sign docu- ments or participate in a cover-up of unauthorized appointments? • Had Weston engaged in conduct creating a hostile work environment? • Had Weston hired staff with- RXW¿UVWSRVWLQJWKHSRVLWLRQV" • Had Weston violated Port Commission directives related to a hiring freeze? • Had Weston engaged in conduct involving alcohol in vi- olation of rules? Stoelk interviewed Weston, Browne, Herman and other em- ployees at the Port; current and former Port commissioners; Bynaker; and Westerlund Log Handling’s Roger Nance. Findings ,QKLV¿QGLQJV6WRHONZURWH that Weston had engaged in individual meetings with Port Commissioners and acted on their opinions, when the Port Commission as a whole should dictate actions of the Port. “The individual or solicit- ed meetings is not unlawful as a violation of public meetings laws, however the practice is precarious when outcomes are LQ FRQÀLFW ZLWK SROLF\ PDWWHUV and it promotes an atmosphere of favoritism or selective work priority,” Stoelk wrote. A couple of allegations made against Weston were not sus- tained by Stoelk’s report: • He had not compelled em- ployees to sign any documents or engage in a cover-up. • He had not engaged in Port DFWLYLWLHVZKLOHXQGHUWKHLQÀX- ence of intoxicants. But a number of allegations against Weston were sustained: • He had engaged in per- sonnel negotiations or modi- ployees that appeared retaliatory in nature for actions taken by them. • He failed to adhere to ethi- cal standards related to a public RI¿FLDO E\ WDNLQJ LWHPV DEDQ- doned by a former tenant, but not yet forfeited to the Port, for his own personal use. “The use of goods, allowed Mr. Weston to not spend money on equipment rental of scaffolding,” Stoelk wrote in the report. Cases in discovery The cases brought by Browne and Herman against Weston and the Port are in U.S. District Court in Portland. Dis- covery in the cases is due by June 17. Alternate dispute reso- lutions or the ordering of a pre- trial will happen by July 17. Coa st River Bu sin ess Jou rn a l is n ow in clu d ed w ith you r Da ily Astoria n N EW! Bill: ‘I don’t see where it’s going to move forward’ Continued from Page 1A ity and restore the Burdick, D-Port- public’s trust in state land and Rep. Peter Rep. Julie Parrish, R-West government. That’s Buckley, D-Ash- Linn, hoped to end that ex- why earlier this land. A spokes- emption with a bill introduced month I convened woman for Senate this session. But Parrish said a bipartisan group Minority Leader Thursday the bill, which of House members Sen. Ted Ferrioli, would also impose deadlines to discuss ideas for R-John Day, said he and fee limits on government meaningful ethics intended to provide responses to records requests, reforms focused on his schedule and she is essentially dead. the legislature. I’ve was checking into Rep. Julie “I just don’t see where it’s asked the Speak- the issue. Parrish going to move forward,” Par- er for the ability to Prozanski said rish said of House Bill 3505. continue convening this group he released his schedule be- “If my colleagues do nothing to work on recommendations cause it did not add much to about it, then it’s a shame on that we can bring forward.” his staff’s workload. them about it. I hear a lot of Aaron Knott, legislative “It was pretty simple,” ÀRRUVSHHFKHVDERXWPRQH\LQ director for the Oregon De- Prozanski said. “From my politics and Democracy.” partment of Justice, also sub- perspective, it was something Parrish said the chairwom- mitted written testimony that we could accommodate in the an of the House Committee Parrish’s bill would encourage heat of the legislative session.” on Rules, House Democratic SHRSOH WR ¿OH RYHUO\ EURDG Prozanski said he handles pub- Leader Rep. Val Hoyle, could records requests, because it lic records requests on a case- have done more to work with would require governments by-case basis and has used Parrish to come up with public to waive all fees if employees the legislative exemption in records reform legislation on were unable to respond with- response to more voluminous which more lawmakers might in 21 days. Knott also wrote requests because they would agree. some sections of the bill were have taken too much of his In a written statement laudable, although he did not staff’s time away from other Thursday, Hoyle said Parrish’s address the legislative exemp- work during the session. bill stalled because of oppo- tion. “I have a desire to be as sition from city and county Since Oregon lawmakers transparent as possible under governments. Those agencies choose whether to respond to the circumstances,” Prozanski WHVWL¿HGGHDGOLQHVDQGFKDQJHV public records requests, in- said. to fees in Parrish’s bill would dividual lawmakers respond Miles Pengilly, chief of staff have been too costly. very differently to the same for Rep. Ken Helm, D-Beaver- “The testimony delivered request. The EO Media Group/ ton, wrote in an email that the in committee from local gov- Pamplin Media Group Capital lawmaker “has chosen to in- ernments and school districts Bureau recently requested a voke the in-session exemption was overwhelmingly clear that copy of the April work sched- for any and all public records HB 3505 as written is unwork- ules for the 10 lawmakers on requests made during the leg- able,” Hoyle wrote in an email. the House-Senate committee islative session. It is time-con- “That said, I believe we need working on marijuana issues. VXPLQJIRURXURI¿FHWRVDWLVI\ to make substantial reforms to Four lawmakers provided their these requests and distracts public records policies as part schedules: Sen. Floyd Prozans- our focus from important leg- of an overall effort to increase ki, D-Eugene, Sen. Lee Beyer, islative work during the fast- transparency and accountabil- '6SULQJ¿HOG 6HQ *LQQ\ paced, high-stakes session.” ¿FDWLRQV RI SHUVRQQHO EHQH¿WV without the Port Commission’s authorization. • He engaged in a practice of hiring staff, disregarding a hir- ing freeze imposed by the Port Commission. The report also found he failed to announce job vacancies publicly and had been untruthful in his representation of three employee appointments to the Port Commission. • He engaged in deceptive FRQGXFWUHODWHGWRWKHUDWL¿FDWLRQ of a labor agreement between the Port and the Internation- al Longshore and Warehouse Union by editing a contract’s language on vacation accrual after the union had voted and before he brought it to the Port Commission for a vote. • He made statements to em- O n the first Frida y of every m on th, Da ily A storia n rea ders w ill receive the CRBJ a s a n a dded bon u s CRBJ is the on ly bu sin ess jou rn a l tha t focu ses exclu sively on the Colu m bia -Pa cific region . 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