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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 20, 2019)
Three concerts promise modern, traditional music 146TH YEAR, NO. 239 DailyAstorian.com // THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2019 $1.50 Knight resigns from the Port Separation agreement avoids lawsuit By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian Jim Knight, confronted with grow- ing criticism of his management of the Port of Astoria, has resigned as execu- tive director. The Port Commission on Tuesday unanimously accepted his resignation and both sides agreed to release all claims against each another, assuring Knight will not sue the agency after his departure. The Port will pay Knight $221,000, including $145,400 for alleged emo- tional distress , $33,600 for eco- nomic damages and $42,000 for his attorney fees. The agency will cover six months of health benefi ts for Knight, who is also eligible for the Public Employees Retirement System. Knight left the Port’s offi ces with his personal attorney shortly before the commission meeting and could not be reached for comment. His resig- nation comes a week after a majority of the Port Commission publicly lost confi dence in his leadership and indi- cated he could be fi red. Commissioners installed Will Isom, the Port’s fi nance director, as interim executive director. Frank Spence, the commission’s president , said Isom does not want the position perma- nently. The c ommission will discuss the search for a new executive director at a July 2 meeting . See Knight, Page A7 Apartment project to blend workforce housing, vacation rentals Jim Knight Fort George Brewery faces backlash over cap and trade Co-owner supported the controversial legislation By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian Photos by Katie Frankowicz/The Astorian Properties behind Safeway on 32nd Street in Astoria could be the home to a new four-building, 66-unit apartment complex. A 66-unit development near Safeway By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Astorian n Astoria developer is propos- ing a new 66-unit apartment complex behind Safeway with the city’s workforce housing crunch and illegal vacation rentals in mind. The Northpost Apartments would provide a mix of long-term and short- term options in four three-story build- ings on vacant land between 31st and 32nd s treets. Most of the units would be one-bedroom apartments. “From a price point, I was really trying to gear it towards what would be reasonable housing expenses for a A See Project, Page A6 The proposed Northpost Apartments include a complex of four buildings, each three stories tall, with primarily one-bedroom units. Fort George Brewery is facing a local backlash over co-owner Jack Harris’ sup- port of a controversial state House bill to lower carbon dioxide emissions. Harris submitted a letter on behalf of Fort George in February in favor of the Clean Energy Jobs Bill, which would cap carbon emissions and require large indus- trial facilities, such as Georgia-Pacif- ic’s Wauna Mill , to buy pollution allowances if they exceed the cap . MORE The bill, an attempt to INSIDE counter climate change, Lawmakers passed the House on Monday night and now clash over goes to the state Senate. cap-and- Fort George’s associ- trade bill ation with the bill led to Page A3 a social media fi restorm over the weekend after the Silver Salmon Grille announced on Facebook it would boy- cott the brewery’s products. The Asto- ria restaurant said it was standing behind truckers and the timber industry. The Uptown Cafe in Warrenton posted on Facebook that the restaurant would also stop serving Fort George beers. Harris said he has asked that his letter be removed from the offi cial record. He also said he is apologizing to his co-work- ers. Fort George is no longer listed as a member of Oregon Business for Climate, a group of around 100 medium and large businesses advocating for the bill. “I was completely out of line,” Harris said. “I broke company policy. I did not have (the right) to speak for Fort George’s 160 employees, let alone my business partner” Chris Nemlowill. Oregon Business for Climate includes some of the state’s most popular busi- ness interests, from Deschutes Brewery and Dutch Bros. Coffee to Nike and the Portland Trail Blazers. But the backlash against Fort George, and the brewery’s swift retreat, shows how fraught it can be for businesses to get involved in divisive public policy debates. See Fort George, Page A6 Foster home provider hit with another neglect fi nding State cites failure to report abuse By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Astorian The state has substantiated another fi nding of neglect at KC Care LLC, a Seaside-based adult foster home pro- vider fi ghting to stay in business. An investigation found Ken Biamont, the registered agent for KC Care, failed to report sexual abuse of a resident by a staff mem- ber. The fi nding stems from previous state investigations that determined a woman who worked for KC Care had a sexual relationship with a man living in adult foster homes. Biamont, through his attorneys, denied the state’s fi nding and asked for judicial review in Circuit Court. The latest turn, outlined in court fi lings last week, is among a thicket of legal and administrative responses by KC Care to the state Department of Human Services’ intent to revoke the provider’s licenses. KC Care continues to operate adult foster homes in Astoria and Warrenton for people with intellec- tual and developmental disabilities while appeals are pending. Investigations into abuse and neglect at KC Care helped uncover poor management and a lack of over- sight in Clatsop County’s develop- mental disability program. Last week, county commission- ers voted to transfer oversight to the Department of Human Services, which will contract with Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare, a private non- profi t, to provide services and coordi- nate with adult foster homes, group homes and supported living. See Foster home, Page A6 Colin Murphey/The Astorian KC Care LLC, an adult foster home provider based in Seaside, is challenging the state’s fi ndings of abuse and neglect. KC CARE CONTINUES TO OPERATE ADULT FOSTER HOMES IN ASTORIA AND WARRENTON FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHILE APPEALS ARE PENDING.
