6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 29, 2015
Polk County News
MINET: Finance committee disbanded after controversy
Continued from Page 1A
Clyne’s second request to Butsch
was to have the finance committee
consider a new meeting location,
one that would allow it to meet be-
yond 5 p.m. in case discussions
carried longer than anticipated.
Meyer said sometimes discus-
sion did take longer because mem-
bers of the finance committee had
trouble staying on task.
“We’re trying to (look at pricing);
we’re trying to bring you a recast
budget,” Meyer said on March 26.
“When topics come up in left field,
like selling MINET, I’m happy to have
those discussions, but things like
that are distractions. … I’m not going
to let the meetings get hijacked on
topics and not get to the financials
when that is why we’re there.”
At the end of the March 26
meeting, the board agreed to can-
cel the finance committee until a
new charter could be crafted,
which was done on April 14.
Both Clyne and McClure said
the finance committee should be
ready to go with its new charter,
which removed the committee’s
ability to make decisions or spend
money, and made it clearer that it
is an advisory committee.
However, the true intentions of
the committee remain muddled.
MINET finance committee
June 26, 2014: MINET’s board of directors decide to form three
committees to help MINET, Marketing, Technology and Finance com-
mittees.
July 24, 2014: MINET’s advisory committees are formed.
Aug. 28, 2014: Ben Meyer, Doris Johnston, Gary Van Horn, Mark
Dunmire and Gloria Butsch are appointed to the finance committee
with a unanimous vote by the MINET board of directors.
October 2014: Finance committee begins meetings.
February 2015: Finance committee chairman Meyer asks the MINET
board of directors for more variety in members on the finance commit-
tee, noting he would like “less political debate.”
March 26, 2015: MINET board of directors disbands the finance
committee.
April 14, 2015: MINET board of directors revises the charter for the
finance committee, removing words which granted the committee any
authority, making it clearly stated as an advisory committee.
“The point of this group is to
help MINET,” McClure said on
Thursday. “Frankly, we have
enough politics at the board level,
you don’t have to bring the finance
committee into this.”
On Thursday, Clyne said he
emailed Butsch regarding the fi-
nance committee agenda in efforts
to remain transparent — emails
between public employees are
public record.
“I could have very privately had
that conversation, but didn’t,”
Clyne said, noting that his requests
to her were made because Butsch
works for him in a city manager-fi-
nance director relationship.
The fact that he also is the
MINET board chairman commu-
nicating with a member of an al-
legedly independent finance advi-
sory committee was just part of the
nature of MINET, Clyne said.
The position of MINET’s board
chair rotates between the city
managers of Monmouth and Inde-
pendence, according to MINET’s
charter.
Each city manager must wear
“Everybody is accountable for MINET. You
should be doing everything in your power to
make it better.”
— Scott McClure,
MINET board vice chairman and Monmouth city manager
two hats when it comes to MINET.
McClure, now the vice chairman
of MINET, said he didn’t think it
was appropriate for a quorum of
the finance committee to have
email correspondence.
Clyne said joining a committee
does not remove the right to com-
municate with each other.
“People email about business all
the time,” Clyne said. “Whether
email violates the public meetings
law, I don’t know.”
Clyne said that Gary Van Horn,
Doris Johnston and Butsch, the
three committee members in-
volved in the email chain, were
working toward clarification
about choosing the committee
chair.
“The idea of public meetings
law is matters of public impor-
tance,” he said. “You always have
preparation for a meeting. You
don’t do that publicly or the meet-
ings would last forever. That’s fair
discussion.”
McClure said more direction will
need to be given to the next fi-
nance committee regarding com-
munication with each other and
how to operate.
The emails between a quorum
was “not effective at all,” McClure
noted. “It should have been ad-
dressed at a meeting, or to him
(Meyer) directly. It’s just bad form.”
The political divide on the
MINET board is nothing new, both
McClure and Clyne agree.
McClure said it’s unfortunate.
“Everybody is accountable for
MINET,” he said. “You should be
doing everything in your power to
make it better.”
Clyne said “good fences make
good neighbors,” but when it
comes to MINET, “We’re joined at
the hip,” and have to try and work
together.
The MINET board of directors
will meet at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at
the Independence Civic Center,
555 S. Main St.
OBITUARIES
JoAnn Luthe
March 28, 1931 – April 17, 2015
JoAnn Luthe, 84, of Salem
died April 17 after a long ill-
ness.
She grew up in Dallas and
lived in many communities
throughout Oregon before
settling in Salem in the mid-
1960s.
Jo worked many years as a
waitress, a job she loved,
until her and Ed, her hus-
band of 57 years, opened
Salem's first wicker store
“The House of Twigs.” A
savvy business woman with
a strong work ethic, Jo even-
tually opened a clothing
store that was dedicated to
offering fashionable choices
2015 Relay for Life
of Polk County
Sponsors Step Up For
Survivor Dinner
The 2nd annual Survivor Dinner is taking place at
Eola Hills Wine Cellars the evening of Saturday, May 2.
For those of you Polk County residents who have survived
cancer or are currently in treatment, Relay For Life invites you
and one guest to an evening of a complimentary dinner and en-
tertainment. For more information, contact Vicki Bailey at 503-623-
5241 or vickibaile@aol.com
How is it possible to treat survivors to this special evening? It’s
because of the generosity of our sponsors who appreciate the
courage and strength these survivors have shown in their fight
against cancer. Without the support of sponsors such as Eola Hills,
White’s Collision, the Itemizer, and Van Well’s, this night of food,
music, and gifts could never happen. A thank-you goes out also to
our sponsor, Dallas Aquatic Center, for hosting the most recent Sur-
vivor/Caregiver Swim on April 19.
Please join us in thanking our most recent sponsor, along with the
following businesses, health care professionals, families, and organi-
zations for their commitment to Relay For Life and its mission to
find a cure: Western Days ~ Rabbit’s
• West Valley Hospital
• West Valley Physicians & Surgeons Clinic/Dr. John Hadley
• West Valley Surgical Specialty Clinic/Dr. Alison Smith
• Monmouth Medical Center/Dr. Charles Essex
• Eola Hills Wine Cellars
• The Majestic
• Les Schwab Tire Centers of
Dallas, West Salem, & Independence
• White’s Collision Service
• Dallas Aquatic Center
• Limeberry Frozen Yogurt
• American Outdoors
• Polk County Itemizer-Observer
• South View Medical Arts
• First Community Credit Union
• Dallas Retirement Village
• Matthew Woolsey, DMD
• NW Natural
• Monmouth-Independence Rotary
• Dallas Glass & Window
• Mitch Ratzlaff State Farm
• Polk County Association of Realtors
• Siletz Trucking Company
• Republic Services
• Partnerships In Community Living, Inc.
• Royal Flush
• H & R Block of Dallas & Monmouth
• Michelle Hasbrook, DDS
• Dallas School District
Relay For Life 2015
• Dallas Rotary Club
will take place
• Salem Sand Club
May 30-31,
• Dallas Family Medicine
10am to 10am
• James W. Fowler Co.
at LaCreole
• Central Lions Club
Middle School
• Bollman Funeral Home
in Dallas
• Hancock Forest Management
• Dutch Bros. Coffee
• Washington Street Steakhouse & Pub
• OREPAC Building Products
• Polk County Fairgrounds and Event Center
• Elkay Manufacturing
• R & J Mobility Services
• Van Well Building Supply
• Bookey Strong
to women with fuller figures,
“Tops and More.”
The store expanded to in-
clude imported and house-
hold items and the name
was changed to “Tops &
More Gifts
Galore.”
With her
genuine
s m i l e ,
sense of
fashion,
and signa-
ture “big
glasses,” Jo was a woman
who made a lasting impres-
sion. She had an uncanny
ability to lighten any room
she entered.
She was preceded in
death by her husband, Ed-
ward.
Survivors include her sis-
ter, Patricia Swenson of Dal-
las; sons, Randy of Kent,
Wash., and Rick and Russ,
both of Salem; and one
granddaughter.
At her request no service
will be held. Her wish was
that friends would to take an
afternoon and visit a shut-in.
Keizer Funeral Chapel
handled arrangements.
Patricia Ann Autry
June 9, 1949 – April 13, 2015
Patricia Ann Autry, 65, of
Dallas died April 13 in Dallas.
Patricia was born in Taco-
ma, Wash.,
to Billie
and Betty
Staggs.
S h e
married
Thomas L.
Autr y in
Vancouver,
Wash., and
had worked as a homemak-
er. Patricia had lived in Dal-
las for 32 years.
Survivors include her par-
ents, Billie and Betty Staggs;
daughters, Bobbi, Melody,
April, and Summer; son,
Kevin; 12 grandchildren; and
four great-grandchildren.
Memorial service was Sat-
urday at Salt Creek Baptist
Church.
Arrangements in care of
Farnstrom Mortuary in In-
dependence.
To send an online condo-
lence: www.FarnstromMortu-
ary.com.
Franklin Leroy
Miller
Feb. 24, 1944 – April 22, 2015
Franklin Leroy Miller, 71,
of Monmouth died April 22.
He was born to Theron
and Virginia Miller in Port-
land.
Franklin graduated from
Central High School in 1962,
and worked as a mechanic
and service station attendant.
He married Joanne Kauff-
412 Lancaster Drive NE
Salem, OR 97301
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man on July 26, 1975, at First
Presbyterian in Independ-
ence.
Franklin loved his wife
and family and family get-
togethers. He loved to talk
and tell stories from younger
years, playing horseshoes
and pool. He enjoyed travel-
ing to Hawaii, Alaska, Ari-
zona, and to the Oregon
Coast. He had a giving spirit,
helping out many people.
Franklin was a member of
First Baptist Church of Inde-
pendence. He enjoyed his
church and loved the Lord.
Celebration of life is May
9 at 1 p.m. at First Baptist
Church, 1505 Monmouth
St., Independence.
Farnstrom Mortuary in In-
dependence handled
arrangements. To send an on-
line condolence: www.Farn-
stromMortuary.com.
Karen L. VanCamp
Feb. 21, 1952 – April 10, 2015
Karen L. VanCamp, 63,
died April 10.
She was born to Albert
and Eva VanCamp and was
sister of
M i k e ,
Richard,
Larry and
Patrick,
and sister
and triplet
to Danny
and Kath-
leen. She was mother to
Phillip Reed and Aimy Wil-
son and grandmother to two
grandchildren.
Karen enjoyed music,
flowers and dancing. She
also loved to play bingo.
Service is Sunday from
noon to 4 p.m. at The Majes-
tic on Main Street in Dallas.
Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center of Dallas handled
arrangements. To send an
online message: www.dal-
lastribute.com.