12A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016
Recall: Directors defended their actions
Continued from Page 1A
“We would like to thank all
of the good citizens that sup-
ported a united effort to recall
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Neuwirth said in a statement,
adding that she was “outplayed
and outspent.” “God bless the
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police who protect us. Sorry we
let you down. The people have
voted. Enough said.”
A volunteer for 30 years
before becoming chief and a
longtime member of the Can-
non Beach Police Department,
Balzer was locked out of his
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while he gathered his belong-
ings and sent home walking in
the rain, Neuwirth said in Jan-
uary. She and other signato-
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Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian
and the manner in which it was Audrey JoHanson, left, stacks ballots before counting them at the Judge Guy Boyington
done.
Building on Tuesday.
The dismissal
Directors defended their
actions, pointing to Balzer’s
lack of administrative and lead-
ership skills.
The board members stated
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responsibility to those who
elected them to provide a high
level of oversight, particularly
in matters of management and
administration.”
Balzer was dismissed
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tors, elected by district voters,
became concerned about his
ability to perform the admin-
istrative skills required of
the head of a public agency,”
according to their statements.
Smith had described Bal-
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not personal.”
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a civil suit in Clatsop County
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district, seeking more than
$525,000 in damages and his
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He later amended the lawsuit
to seek more than $677,000
in damages and the rein-
statement of his employment
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That suit is scheduled for a
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Weed: Tax will be on the ballot in November
Continued from Page 1A
There are already limita-
tions in place, City Attorney
Tammy Herdener said at pre-
vious meetings. Dispensaries
must be located more than
1,000 feet from schools. The
prohibition does not apply to
day care facilities or institu-
tions like the Christian Confer-
ence Center.
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ballot in November in any
case, as councilors also voted
4-1 to approve a 3 percent tax
on its sale, a tax that must be
endorsed by voters.
“Because we can tax doesn’t
mean we should tax,” Vetter
said in opposing the levy.
Vetter, the sole dissenter,
said it was unfair to single out
or “burden a potential business
even more” with an additional
tax.
“We’re not doing it to fat-
ten our budget,” Cadwallader
said. “The council would look
for the 3 percent to be used for
treatment and enforcement.”
Initiative ahead?
Among those who opposed
lifting the ban was Marlene
Laws, who led a petition drive
WREDQPDULMXDQDVDOHVLQ&DQ-
non Beach. Laws and oth-
ers have pointed to the health
risks, public safety concerns
and impact on tourism.
Along with a vote on the tax,
if advocates of a ban can gather
enough signatures, it could force
a new vote, this time to override
the council’s decision.
“We will do an initiative,”
Laws said after the meeting.
Seidel: ‘I don’t accept them monitoring me’
Continued from Page 1A
don’t want to prevent you from
participating in the democratic
process.”
Seidel, an activist who
is suspicious of government
and authority figures, had
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to probation. “I don’t accept
them monitoring me,” he
said.
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to the mental health evalu-
ation. He referred to doubts
about his mental state as
“gaslighting,” a term for
psychologically manipulat-
ing someone into thinking
they are insane that origi-
nated with the 1944 classic
movie “Gaslight.”
But Matyas told Seidel
that he appeared disorga-
nized at times and might
benefit from an evaluation.
Unusual trial
The sentence followed an
unusual trial where Seidel
acted as his own attorney and
Mayor LaMear, Police Chief
Johnston and City Councilor
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witnesses for the prosecution.
At the City Council meet-
ing last June, Seidel wanted to
speak about a plan to move an
aging communications tower
off Coxcomb Hill near the
Astoria Column. He believes
the city was too cozy with the
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ria Column and Verizon Wire-
less on the deal, but has not been
able to substantiate his convo-
luted claims of corruption.
Seidel missed the por-
tion of the meeting that dealt
with the communications
tower, and when he tried
to speak as the council was
about to discuss the River-
front Vision Plan, LaMear
cut him off.
Seidel announced he was
making a citizen’s arrest
of LaMear, and then John-
ston, and was wrestled to
the ground by Johnston after
refusing to leave.
Deputy District Attorney
Steve Chamberlin played
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the council meeting and a
video Nemlowill had taken
on her smartphone that doc-
umented the disruption and
arrest.
Constitutional rights
Rather than aggressively
cross-examine the wit-
nesses or present his own
Road repairs:
Review could cost
$300,00 to $500,000
spent since 2003 to send a
staffer to Washington, D.C.,
the committee Tuesday after- Brussels, Barcelona, Singapore
noon. Baney said a contractor and the Gold Coast of Austra-
might complete the review lia to research alternatives to
by December, although she the gas tax, as reported by Wil-
added that “we may need to lamette Week. The state shared
buy a bit more time.”
the tab for some of those trips
The Oregon Department with conference sponsors.
of Transportation estimated
State Sen. Betsy Johnson,
last year the review could cost D-Scappoose, was at the meet-
$300,000 to $500,000.
ing Tuesday, where a panel dis-
Brown asked the Oregon cussed transportation spend-
Transportation Commission in ing and funding ideas for 2017.
November to launch the per- Johnson said the management
formance review, with the goal review would address concerns
of reassuring lawmakers about she frequently hears from busi-
ODOT’s capabilities as the nesses and lawmakers.
Legislature prepares to negoti-
“It was, what are you buy-
ate a transportation
ing with the money,
funding package in
and do we have the
2017. That legisla-
capacity to deliver?”
tion could send hun-
Johnson said.
dreds of millions
Johnson said that
of dollars in addi-
given the current
tional funding to the
pace of contract-
agency.
ing for the review,
Concerns about
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ODOT’s manage-
might arrive too late
ment were in the
for lawmakers.
Betsy
spotlight last year,
“I’m not being
Johnson
as Brown and a
disparaging,
but
group of eight law-
it’s a complicated
makers negotiated a deal that undertaking,” Johnson said of
would have raised the state gas the management review. “(Law-
tax and vehicle registration fees. makers) come back in February
The legislation would have and the package needs to start
generated a total of $202 mil- PRYLQJRQWKH¿UVWGD\:H¶UH
lion annually for state and local damn near out of time.”
roads and repaid $400 million in
State Sen. Lee Beyer,
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ects listed in the bill.
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The proposal died soon in order for a transportation
after it was unveiled, when funding package to proceed.
ODOT director Matt Garrett
“That’s really important to
said during a hearing the plan get done hopefully by the start
would not reduce carbon emis- of the legislative session in Feb-
sions by the amount initially ruary, and I think you’re push-
promised.
ing it,” Beyer said. Both Beyer
Lawmakers had raised con- and Johnson were in the group
cerns about the agency’s man- of lawmakers who negotiated
agement even before that hear- the 2015 transportation pack-
ing, and the 2015 funding age with Brown.
package would have required a
The Capital Bureau is a col-
performance audit of ODOT by laboration between EO Media
WKH6HFUHWDU\RI6WDWH¶V2I¿FH Group and Pamplin Media
The Legislature questioned Group. Hillary Borrud can be
some of the agency’s spend- reached at 503-364-4431 or
ing decisions, such as $65,000 hborrud@eomediagroup.com.
Continued from Page 1A
EO Media Group
A review of the Oregon Department of Transportation
in November by Gov. Kate Brown has yet to begin. Leg-
islators say if the review in incomplete before the next
session it could hamper work on a transportation plan.
Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian
Zachary Seidel gives clos-
ing remarks to the jury
during his trial at the Clat-
sop County Courthouse
Tuesday. Seidel acted as
his own attorney with legal
advice from attorney Tatja-
na Queener (not pictured).
‘There’s a
limit on
what you
may do on
behalf of
decorum.’
Consult a
PROFESSIONAL
Q:
Zachary Seidel
speaking to the jury
evidence, Seidel, who was
advised by attorney Tat-
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that his constitutional rights
to free speech, assembly
and to petition government
were violated and ques-
tioned whether LaMear had
the authority to order him to
leave the meeting.
LaMear, as the mayor,
presides over council meet-
ings and has the discretion
over the agenda and pub-
lic comment. Typically, the
public is allowed to speak on
individual agenda items and
on broader topics at the end
of meetings. The council has
adopted, but does not always
enforce, a three-minute time
limit.
Seidel insisted that he did
not pose a violent threat and
should have been allowed
to finish his remarks even if
they were out of order.
“There’s a limit on what
you may do on behalf of
GHFRUXP´KHWROGWKHMXU\
JEFFREY M. LEINASSAR
DMD, FAGD
503/325-0310
1414 MARINE DRIVE,
ASTORIA
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D AILY
A STORIAN
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