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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016 GRY BrRZQ ODZPDNers hDYe GRQe OiWWOe WR ERRsW WrDQsSDreQFy Waning drive for reforms By HILLARY BORRUD DQG PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau SALEM — A year after Gov. John Kitzhaber resigned under the cloud of a federal criminal investigation, there is waning momentum for govern- ment transparency reforms in the state capital. Federal prosecutors launched the investigation after news reports revealed .LW]KDEHU¶V ¿DQFpH &\OYLD Hayes since 2011 worked as a paid consultant for groups that ZDQWHG WR LQÀXHQFH VWDWH SROL- cies. The news also prompted some people to call for govern- ment to operate more openly. After succeeding Kitzhaber as governor, Kate Brown pledged to spearhead legisla- tion to strengthen government ethics and public records laws. “It was clear that transpar- ency was not a priority in the prior administration,” Brown said in November. “I changed WKDW P\ ¿UVW GD\ RQ WKH MRE and every day since. Since I was sworn in, my team and I have worked to increase the level of transparency in state government.” Yet 13 months later, Brown and lawmakers have done little to increase transparency. Lawmakers have twice failed to pass legislation that would set limits on the time and fees for responding to public records requests. And groups that shape state policies and laws, including political party caucuses and work groups that advise the governor and Legis- lature, routinely meet in secret. Jim Moore, a political sci- ence professor and director of the Tom McCall Center for Pol- LF\ ,QQRYDWLRQ DW 3DFL¿F 8QL- versity, said the situation was not surprising, given the trend in Oregon over the last 40 years has been to whittle away at the state’s open meetings and pub- lic records laws, effectively reducing transparency. “Occasionally, there will be a blip kind of the other way,” Moore said. “You would think that the Kitzhaber thing would cause that reaction, but it really didn’t.” Mateusz Perkowski/EO Media Group Members of Oregon’s House of Representatives are de- picted on March 3 at the end of the legislative session. Neither the Legislature or Gov. Kate Brown did much in the recent session to bolster government transparency. other requests remained unful- ¿OOHGZKHQ.LW]KDEHUUHVLJQHG in February 2015. There is no deadline to release public records under Oregon law. The public records backlog prompted proposals to improve the state’s public records law. Brown introduced three bills in 2015 as part of her eth- ics reform and transparency agenda. The bills, all of which passed the Legislature, were narrowly targeted at some of the issues in the Kitzhaber and Hayes scandal and did not make any sweeping changes to government transparency. One bill required an audit of how state agencies handled public records requests. At the same time, a broad public records bill introduced by state Rep. Julie Parrish, R-West Linn, died due to lack of support. Parrish’s bill would KDYHUHTXLUHGJRYHUQPHQWRI¿- cials who conducted public business using private email accounts, as well as social media and cellphone texts, to hand over a copy of those records to the government for archiving within 30 days. 7RSVWDWHRI¿FLDOVLQFOXGLQJ Kitzhaber and his staff, Hayes and former Gov. Ted Kulon- goski all used private email accounts to discuss state busi- ness in recent years. The legislation also would have required governments to respond to public records requests within seven days and to waive all fees if employ- ees were unable to release the record within three weeks. Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Eugene, who at the time was House Democratic Leader and chair PXEOiF reFRrGs EDFNORJ of the committee where the Journalists’ inquiries late in bill died, said it stalled because 2014 into Hayes’ clients and city and county governments WKH H[WHQW RI KHU LQÀXHQFH RQ opposed the deadlines and fee state policies caused a back- limits in the bill. Hoyle said log of public records requests at she and other lawmakers still WKH *RYHUQRU¶V 2I¿FH ,W WRRN wanted public records reform, months for Kitzhaber’s staff to but they decided they needed release some of the records, and more time to reach consensus NOAA Fisheries ¿QDOi]es QeZ EDQ they examined generally fur- nished records in two weeks or less for routine requests, while more complicated requests could take more than 265 days and result in high and inconsis- tent fees. Brown ordered state agen- cies to develop standardized public records fees and pro- cedures, and said she planned to offer legislation “to estab- lish a neutral third party entity to mediate disputes regarding public records between request- ers and state agencies.” Brown’s communications director described the job as an ombudsman. The governor did not follow through on that plan. Instead, she asked lawmak- ers to approve two temporary positions at the Department of Administrative Services to help process public records requests. Neither position has duties involving helping the public when an agency denies a pub- lic records request. By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian When Terrence Smyth resigned as superintendent of Knappa School District and principal of Knappa High School in January after less than six months on the job, he cited health con- cerns and his commute from Jewell. Later that month, Smyth started working at Jew- ell School, where he lives in a district-owned resi- dence with Alice Hunsa- NHUKLVSDUWQHURI¿YH\HDUV and superintendent of Jewell since 2013. “I’m simply a sub, a long-term sub,” Smyth said. “I’m not even bothering get- ting hired into the job.” He is teaching art, per- VRQDO ¿QDQFH DQG ¿OOLQJ LQ for student services repre- sentative Kim Morrison, who Hunsaker said abruptly resigned from Jewell shortly after he had left Knappa. Starting this week, Smyth DOVR VWDUWHG ¿OOLQJ LQ IRU Principal Mike Scott, who left for a hip replacement. Smyth was hired over the summer as high school prin- cipal and superintendent in Knappa after his predeces- sor Jeff Leo became super- intendent of nearby Banks School District. But Smyth said there was a misun- derstanding about how he would split his time between the two positions. He said the long hours, the 2 1/2- hour daily round-trip com- mute between Jewell and Knappa and all the events he was attending combined OPEXGsPDQ Alice Hunsaker Terrence Smyth to cause some stress-related health issues. At Jewell, Smyth said he is brushing off his teaching KDWDQGRQO\FRPPXWLQJ¿YH minutes to work. “It is less stress … maybe,” he said. “I’m still learning. We’ll see here, after I start subbing for Mike Scott.” After Smyth left, Knappa entered into a contract with Assistant Superinten- dent Paul Peterson from the Northwest Regional Edu- cation Service District to replace Smyth as a part- time superintendent. Science instructor Laurel Smalley is on special assignment, han- dling many of the daily func- tions of a principal. The Knappa School Board recently decided to expand the administration to a part-time superintendent and full-time principal. “I imagine we’ll be wrap- ping up the principal hire within the next six weeks,” Peterson said. After the principal is hired, he said, the district will begin searching for a new superintendent. Greg McKenzie, whose search ¿UP :LQGRZ WR /HDGHU- VKLS KHOSHG ¿QG 6P\WK KDV offered search services at no charge. Kristen Grainger, Brown’s spokeswoman, said the Gover- QRU¶V2I¿FHGHWHUPLQHG³WKHUH was a more pressing need for technical assistance helping agencies respond to requests for electronic records.” Brown plans to propose leg- Jim Moore islation for a public records political science professor, Pacific University ombudsman in 2017, Grainger said. with local governments. Brown has also commit- Hoyle formed a biparti- ted to increasing day-to-day san work group in May to dis- transparency in the Governor’s cuss ideas for this year. Those 2I¿FH IRU H[DPSOH E\ RUGHU- meetings, like other legislative ing her staff not to use private work groups, were closed to the email accounts to conduct pub- public and required no public lic business. notice. At the same time, Brown’s RI¿FH KDV DGRSWHG XQZULWWHQ policies that preclude the media SWriFWer WiPeOiQe Hoyle’s group proposed from speaking to her advisers House Bill 4130, which would and limit the public’s ability to have required governments to observe policymaking. Grainger, Brown’s commu- IXO¿OO SXEOLF UHFRUGV UHTXHVWV within 30 days or provide an nications director, recently told explanation for why the records the EO Media Group/Pamplin Media Group Capital Bureau are delayed. Even with compromises that only she and the governor’s Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber and bipartisan support, the press secretaries are authorized N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A proposal ultimately died in to speak to the media. Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 committee. As lawmakers pre- pared to wrap up work at the end of February, the state Sen- ate already had a backlog of 80 bills it was trying to consider before the end of the session in early March, said Robin Maxey, Senate President Peter Warrenton Grade School 820 SW Cedar St. Courtney’s spokesman. Saturday Warrenton, OR 97146 Brown had also planned to April 16 TH introduce reforms in the short 10 AM -1 PM session, based in part on the audit of state agencies’ handling of public records requests. The Secretary of State’s Come meet the local preschools 2I¿FH UHOHDVHG WKH DXGLW LQ and early childhood providers – November. Auditors found that the nine state agencies learn about their curriculum, W A NTED P resc h o o l a n d ea rl y c h i l d h o o d R ESO U R CE R EFER R A L FA IR P arents of soon-to-be preschoolers e r ’ u o Y ited! Inv ACCE P T IN G N E W P AT IE N T S As to ria Ch iro p ra ct i c B ARRY SE ARS, D .C. AU TO ACCIDEN TS W ORK -RELATED IN JU RIES D on ’t dela y! Ca ll toda y! W e bill m ost in su ra n ce com pa n ies in clu din g M edica re By PHOUNG LE Associated Press SEATTLE — The federal JRYHUQPHQW KDV ¿QDOL]HG D West Coast ban on new com- PHUFLDO¿VKLQJIRUIRUDJH¿VK WKHVPDOO¿VKWKDWELJJHU¿VK seabirds and marine mammals depend on for food. NOAA Fisheries says the move is needed to proac- WLYHO\SURWHFWWKHOLWWOH¿VKWKDW play such a critical role in the marine food web. The ban does not affect H[LVWLQJ ¿VKHULHV IRU VDUGLQHV DQFKRYLHVDQG3DFL¿FKHUULQJ It covers species including 3DFL¿F VDQG ODQFH VLOYHUVLGHV and certain varieties of herring, smelt and squid. The restric- tions apply to federal waters off the coast of Washington state, Oregon and California. Conservation groups praised the new protec- tions, saying it represents a real change in the way ocean resources are managed. /DVW 0DUFK WKH 3DFL¿F Fishery Management Council adopted the ban by unanimous vote. On Monday, NOAA pub- OLVKHG ¿QDO UXOHV RQ WKH EDQ which takes effect in May. ‘You would think that the Kitzhaber thing would cause that reaction, but it really didn’t.’ Former Knappa VXSHULQWHQGHQW¿OOV in at Jewell School 5 03 -3 25 -3 3 11 2935 M ARIN E DR • AS TORIA philosophies, tuition and more! Free! and Activity area provided for kids C LATSOP K INDER R EADY , NW P ARENTING , AND OTHER LOCAL RESOURCES WILL BE ATTENDING TO PROVIDE INFO TO PARENTS Sponsored by: MOMS Club of Astoria, Clatsop Kinder Ready & NW Parenting momsclubofastoria.org Early Childhood Health & Education Clinic For Clatsop County Kids SIGN UP TODAY! FREE For all 2-5 year olds, regardless of income Saturday April 9 th Roulette, Craps, Poker & Black Jack Gaming Starts 7: 00 pm Heritage Museum 1618 Exchange St. Astoria Enter thru the “Black Door” (yes “BLACK” - not back) off Duane Street Side - Opens p at 6:30 3 p pm K noc Kn n oc ockk 3x 3 - Tel Telll ‘ em “J “Jo J o e” e ” sen se t y ou. ou u . u. Cash h Bar! ! $15 Entry for r One: : $25 in play money oney 3 games of texas hold ‘em 7:00, 8:00 AND 9:00 $25 Entry forTwo: rTwo: April 19, 2015 Seaside Convention Center 415 First Avenue, Seaside Early screening is an important step to successful learning. Your child will receive the following exams and screenings: ~ Physical ~ Hearing ~ School Readiness ~Speech ~ Nutrition ~Vision ~Dental ~Immunization $50 in play money oney 10 PERSON LIMIT PER GAME. Buy-ins of $30, $40 or $50 respectively. Buy-in in addition to entry ticket. The chip leader at the end of 50 minutes wins a Visa Cash Card valued at 50% of the total buy-in per game. Maximum potential prize money is: 1st Game: $150 ◆2nd Game: $200 ◆ 3rd Game: $250 R S V P April 13, 2015 Astor Elementary School 3550 Franklin Ave., Astoria 503.325.2203 or cchs@cumtux.org Call your local elementary school or Head Start center for an appointment by April 6 for the Astoria clinic or April 14 for the Seaside clinic. Limited transportation help is available upon request. se habla espanol. Prize for best 1920’s costume Thanks Tha h nks to o our Sponsors! Sponsors are NW Early Learning Council, NW Educational Service District and Clatsop Kinder Ready. Major health & education groups of Clatsop County are partnering to make this clinic possible.
