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The Columbia Press
September 17, 2021
Leaders: Commissioners assess their behavior
Continued from Page 1
Caught doing good ...
Spruce Up Warrenton founders Brenda and Norm Hoxsey work
on the sign for the Hammond Fire Station. They also renovated
the Warrenton station’s sign.
asked city staff to review
and take action against three
properties in the city where
truckloads of infill have
been dumped without per-
mits. One of those proper-
ties is owned by Newton. At
one point during the Aug. 24
commission meeting, New-
ton was explaining his calcu-
lations of the amount of infill
on his property and Baldwin
interrupted, saying “Horse-
crap,” which drew anger from
Newton, who had the floor,
and then all of the commis-
sioners began speaking over
each other.
A few days later, Newton
requested a hearing on three
issues:
• The mayor’s inability to
keep order at the Aug. 24
meeting.
• A statement made by
Baldwin, which was report-
ed in The Columbia Press,
following Newton’s abrupt
departure during the May 25
Urban Renewal Agency food
pod discussion. Immediate-
ly after the mayor closed the
meeting, Baldwin said “There
should be a penalty for that:
‘I’m going to take my ball and
go home.’ ”
• Commissioners person-
alizing issues, creating hos-
tility between members, and
distracting from the issues of
the city.
That hearing was held in
open session during Tues-
day’s City Commission meet-
ing. It, too, turned into a bit
of a therapy free-for-all.
“I’m just really disappoint-
ed” it came to this, Commis-
sioner Tom Dyer said. During
his years as an Oregon State
Police officer, “you get a lot
of crap thrown at you and
you let it slide off your back.”
Turning to Newton, he said,
“I appreciate very much all
you bring to this commission.
A lot of times you say things
without thinking (as well).
… Others also have their
strengths and weaknesses.”
Baldwin said it was not his
intention to be antagonistic
or belittling.
“If I think something needs
to be said, I say it,” Baldwin
said. “I’m embarrassed to be
a part of this right now.”
Having passion over is-
sues that are important can
sometimes lead to strong lan-
guage, Commissioner Gerald
Poe said. “I think you have a
tendency to hold on to these
things, Rick. I think it’s time
to let it go.”
With that, Newton stood
up, walked over to Baldwin
and offered his hand. Bald-
win stood and shook it.
The three hearing items
were dismissed.
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