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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (May 4, 2018)
2A • May 4, 2018 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com County manager strikes back over commissioner comments County marijuana sales tax referred to voters A potential 3 percent tax on retail sales New examples of infighting revealed By Jack Heffernan The Daily Astorian By Jack Heffernan The Daily Astorian Clatsop County Manager Cameron Moore will not at- tend Board of Commissioners meetings, citing repeated pub- lic criticism from Commis- sioners Lianne Thompson and Kathleen Sullivan. The county manager has also threatened legal action, according to sources familiar with the issue. Moore was not at the April 25 meeting. Commissioner Scott Lee, the board’s chair- man, read aloud correspon- dence between Moore and commissioners in which the county manager said he would not attend “for the foreseeable future.” “As we discussed last Thursday I unfortunately find myself in the position of hav- ing to take steps to protect myself from the abusive and hostile work environment be- ing imposed upon me by Com- missioners Thompson and Sullivan. One of the primary weapons that they use against me is to make me their verbal punching bag at board of coun- ty commissioner meetings,” the email sent Wednesday, Cameron Moore Lianne Thompson Kathleen Sullivan April 25, and addressed to Lee and other county officials read. “It is extremely unfortunate that this is the situation that I find myself in but based on our discussion I know that you understand my need to take whatever actions are necessary to protect myself from further damage.” Moore could not be reached for comment. Other county of- ficials did not publicly confirm if or why the county manager threatened legal action. Sullivan declined to com- ment, while Thompson offered a statement via email. “I’ve seen better setups in a Law & Order rerun than during this week’s board meeting. To hurl a bucket of allegations at me and a fellow commission- er, without any prior notice or opportunity for discussion, was the height of irresponsi- bility and unprofessionalism,” Thompson wrote. “I welcome finding better ways to work with the county administrators and my fellow commissioners, but turning board meetings into publicity stunts is not the way to do it.” In early April, a county em- ployee — whom Lee declined to identify — sent an email to Moore regarding a “confusing and also concerning” phone call with Thompson. Moore forwarded the email to Lee, who read it aloud Wednesday. The employee claims Thomp- son, after asking that her name not be said out loud, warned her to be careful about making certain public comments. “Nothing was said by ei- ther of us that would cause question or concern. When I asked her where this was going she proceeded to say that she received threatening emails from county management and that it will end up in court and doesn’t want me to have to be in court as she is sure this is my livelihood and even if I was not in this position that I would need a good reference from this job,” the email read. “At that point, I was not only completely confused but also a bit upset by what was said.” Lee said the encounter with Thompson violated a chain of command outlined in the coun- ty charter and board policy and that the action could expose the county to legal liability. He threatened to remove Thomp- son from any liaison assign- ments that would require her to interact with county staff who are not in management. “You cannot threaten em- ployees,” Lee said, adding he has not seen any threatening emails from county manage- ment to Thompson. “This is unacceptable behavior, and I want it to stop.” Thompson responded to the allegations in part of her written statement to the news- paper. “The suggestion that I am threatening is laughable — I am 73 years old and 135 pounds soaking wet. It is clear they are threatened because I believe the manager is ac- countable to the commission- ers that were elected to oversee his work.” Wednesday’s revelations are the latest in a string of pri- vate and public clashes involv- ing commissioners and county management in the past year. Clatsop County voters will decide in November whether to place a tax on retail mari- juana sales. County commissioners voted unanimously Wednes- day, April 25, to refer the 3 percent tax to the general election ballot. Revenue from the handful of dispensaries outside city limits would be about $50,000 annually, county staff estimates. The state ballot measure in 2014 that legalized marijuana sales gave cities and counties the ability to impose a tax of up to 3 percent if approved by voters in a general election. No recreational dispensaries existed outside city limits in 2016, the most recent gener- al election. The tax would be effective 30 days after voter approval. In other business Wednes- day, commissioners: • Continued a public hear- ing on updated flood-hazard maps and revisions to land use rules, including requirements for property owners to pay for a permit when developing their land or seek approval be- fore altering structures. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has re- quired the revisions in order for the roughly 700 affected property owners in unincor- porated, flood-prone areas of the county to be eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program. Residents expressed their opposition to the chang- es both at a county Planning Commission meeting in March and to commissioners Wednesday. Despite the coun- ty’s efforts since the Planning Commission meeting, the fed- eral agency has not budged on any of its requirements, Com- munity Development Direc- tor Gail Henrikson said. Commissioners are sched- uled to hold another hearing in May, when they may vote to adopt an ordinance. The federal agency has mandated that the county implement the revisions by June 20 in order for residents to remain eligi- ble for the insurance. • Appointed Robert Strick- lin to the county Planning Commission. Stricklin has served on the commission before as well as the county Charter Review Committee and various other boards. The commission makes decisions on land use issues and recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. Jacque Presley stepped down in February after four months in the position to focus more time on Angels for Sara Sanc- tuary — her nonprofit dog rescue organization. CANNON BEACH POLICE LOG April 13 9:44 a.m., Highway 101 MP 29: Police respond to a report of a tree down in the roadway. Police assist the Cannon Beach Fire Department with traffic control. 5:26 p.m. 600 block Larch: Police respond to a report of bullying and threats. 6:19 p.m., 3800 block S. Hem- lock: Police receive multiple reports from a seemingly in- toxicated female complaining about incessant barking of a neighbor’s dog. Neighbor is contacted and says the woman is a frequent complainer about their dog and other dogs. Res- ident said she will keep her dogs quiet. April 14 10:32 a.m., S. Hemlock: Caller says that while they were hav- ing breakfast inside an dining establishment their car was scratched by a sharp object. April 15 12:59 a.m., 3600 block W. Chinook: Police assist on a medical call. 6:35 p.m., 300 block Antler: A Jack Russell terrier reported missing is spotted near the Fir Street Bridge. The dog was un- able to be located. 8:29 p.m., 400 block Fir Street: A business owner re- ports a man who attempted to use a check without proper identification. Caller says the person had only one piece of identification on them be- sides a hospital wristband. Caller said the check may belong to the subject’s father. Subject was gone on police arrival and police were unable to locate. April 16 April 18 2:45 p.m., 100 block E. Fifth: Of- ficer secured an open residence door. Premises were searched and nothing appeared amiss. 11:15 a.m., 100 block E. Wash- ington: Police respond to a re- port of a person going through garbage cans but are unable to locate. April 17 1:30 p.m., 2100 block Pacific: Police responding to a report of illegal tree cutting discov- er a person legally trimming branches. 3:15 p.m., Elliot Way: An im- pounded dog was returned to its owner. April 19 8:22 p.m., 1100 block Spruce 75’ WIDE LOT Court: Police respond to a re- port of a dog bite in the past. The suspect and the dog are known but police were unable to locate. The bitten person did not request or seek medical treatment. Police will follow up with the dog owner. April 20 10:43 p.m., Sewer Ponds: Subjects are warned against unlawful lodging. 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