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
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