A2 • Friday, November 19, 2021 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com
Cannon Beach will pay legal fees for Business Directory
public works director in ethics case B M E c
,
.
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oB
By KATIE FRANKOWICZ
The Astorian
CANNON BEACH —
Karen La Bonte, the city’s
public works director, racked
up an estimated $14,000
in legal expenses this year
while dealing with an ethics
probe by the state, City Man-
ager Bruce St. Denis said.
Last week, he asked the
City Council to cover half.
It was a step back from
a resolution St. Denis pro-
posed last week that asked
the city to pay for up to
$15,000 of La Bonte’s legal
fees. His suggestion faced
almost immediate pushback
from some in the commu-
nity. St. Denis later removed
the item from the council’s
meeting agenda.
Since then, the city’s
insurance carrier has deter-
mined it will cover up to
$7,500. On Tuesday, city
councilors voted 4-1 in favor
of an updated proposal from
St. Denis to pay up to an
additional $8,000.
In October, the Oregon
Government Ethics Com-
mission determined La
Bonte violated state confl ict
of interest laws when the city
used a company she co-owns
with her husband to produce
pandemic-related signs and
other products.
La Bonte had verbally
disclosed her ties with Can-
non Beach Design Co., but
failed to declare a potential
confl ict of interest in writing
before city transactions with
the business, the state found.
La Bonte was fi ned $1,000.
St. Denis called the ethics
violation a technicality. The
purpose of the resolution he
proposed Tuesday was not
just to reimburse La Bonte.
It was to off er support for her
as well, he said.
St. Denis contends La
Bonte has been the victim
of harassment by Manza-
nita resident Rusty Morris,
who fi led several complaints
with the Ethics Commission
against La Bonte. Morris has
also fi led complaints with
the Clatsop County Sher-
iff ’s Offi ce and circulated an
online petition to remove La
Bonte from her position.
La Bonte and St. Denis
say the complaints are not
based in fact and stem from
a personal grievance.
“As city manager, I
believe the city has an obli-
gation to support public
employees in a situation like
what Ms. La Bonte has expe-
rienced,” St. Denis wrote in
a lengthy memo to city coun-
cilors. “One in which some-
one used her position with
the city to settle a grudge.
“Failure to do so,” he
added, “sends a message to
current and future employ-
ees that in a situation which
results in them experienc-
ing signifi cant, undeserved
humiliation and personal
expenses, they should not
expect to be supported by the
city and its citizens.”
An investigator with the
Ethics Commission said it
did not appear that La Bonte
used her position to benefi t
herself fi nancially.
But Morris refutes St.
Denis’s characterization. He
says he fi led the complaints
because of sincere concerns
that La Bonte was abusing
her position.
He was not alone in
opposing St. Denis’ request
to reimburse La Bonte for
her legal expenses. City
Councilor Robin Risley
voted against the resolution
last Tuesday, the only “no”
vote.
Insurance is already cov-
ering up to its maximum,
Risley said. The money
the City Council was being
asked to approve would be
coming from taxpayers.
“This sets a bad precedent
to pay for employee ethical
violations over and above
what’s covered in insur-
ance,” Risley argued.
While a number of peo-
ple wrote in support of La
Bonte, others asked the city
to reconsider the resolution.
La Bonte violated state
ethics laws, noted Hannah
Buschert and Erik Ostrander,
managers of Sea Breeze
Court. For the city to cover
her legal fees further erodes
public trust, they wrote in a
letter to city councilors.
“If La Bonte were to have
been found not guilty of
these violations then, with-
out a doubt, her legal fees
should be covered by the
funds in support of protect-
ing employees from false
accusations by a former
associate,” they wrote.
“However, to cover these
fees after being found guilty
shows that whistleblow-
ing on the city is going to
be ignored, as if the city is
above the rules,” they added,
“and if the whistleblowing
is found to be truthful, and
founded by a third party, that
there are no repercussions
for the guilty parties within
the city.”
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Serving the North Oregon
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Judith Gale Capellen
• New Construction
Seaside
1942 — 2021
Judith “Judy” Gale Capel-
len was born in a small north
Idaho sawmill town where
everyone knew your name.
She grew up with music in
her life, starting piano lessons
at age 5, joining a dance band
in high school and dancing to
a Louis Armstrong band in
college.
She purchased a Ham-
mond organ, took a few
organ lessons and eventu-
ally served as an organist for
two churches. One of Judy’s
greatest joys was sitting at
the organ or piano making
music.
With a degree from the
University of Idaho, Judy
moved fi ve times before set-
tling in Astoria. She loved
being a full-time mom to
three, and started working
outside the home when her
youngest was in the third
grade. As every Mom in that
era did, she struggled balanc-
ing the requirements of home
and work.
Judy was deeply proud of
her kids, who were bright,
fun and motivated to help
when needed. Her three chil-
dren, their spouses and her
six grandkids were a source
of tremendous joy.
Judy organized many
family gatherings at the
beach, the mountains, Lake
Pend Oreille and in Seaside.
She wrote plays for Hallow-
een and Christmas with parts
for all, and room for made-up
lines and spontaneous action.
After working in fi nance
and accounting as a control-
ler and chief fi nancial offi -
cer, Judy decided to return to
graduate school, and earned
a master’s degree at Portland
State University at a time
when many of her peers were
contemplating retirement.
Judy loved working with
small businesses. Helping
owners understand the num-
bers was important to her, for
it kept businesses alive and
people employed.
Judy battled lymphoma
for three years, surrounded
by prayers from pillars of her
church, friends and family.
Recently, Judy’s cancer resur-
faced. She was sometimes
• Remodels
• Panel Changes &
Upgrades
overwhelmed by the love
and support she received, and
was always grateful for it.
Judy hiked Mount Hood
and Mount Baker when
younger. More recently, she
roasted sandy hot dogs at
the beach, and would drive
10 hours with kids, grand-
kids and a dog to Lake Pend
Oreille to swim in the icy
cold waters.
To honor Judy’s mem-
ory, please have a party with
friends and family, enjoying
good food, a glass of wine
and lots of music.
In lieu of fl owers, memo-
rial contributions may be
made to Lower Columbia
Hospice or the Seaside Pub-
lic Library.
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Carla Lee Hall
FLOORING
Warrenton
Aug. 22, 1956 — Oct. 31, 2021
Carla was born Aug. 22,
1956, in Everett, Washing-
ton, to Leslie and Donna
Hanson.
In 1983, she met Don
Hall, fell in love, and two
years later they married in
1985.
Carla had four children:
Lon, Trisha, Adam and
Brandon. She also had four
grandchildren: Kimber, Bri-
anna, Augusta and Nathan-
iel; and two step-grandchil-
dren, Addison and Paislie.
Carla had three sisters, as
well, Cheryl, Carmen and
Candie.
Carla had an eye for art.
She enjoyed doing stained
glass, watercolor painting,
hand-crafted art from the
beach and gardening for
many years. She loved walk-
ing through antique shops,
and had an eye for treasure.
She loved working in the
garden and the greenhouse;
she so loved the fl owers.
Her favorite was the fi rst
fl ower of the spring, daff o-
dils, followed by lilacs and
hydrangeas.
She loved all of God’s
critters. She had two cats,
two birds and several fi sh.
Agates collected by Carla Lee
Hall.
She loved her bird feeders,
and loved watching all of the
diff erent birds that came to
them. She so loved her ring-
necked doves.
Carla loved beachcomb-
ing, and enjoyed long walks
on the beach holding hands
with her husband. Her favor-
ite place was the Inn At
Spanish Head in Lincoln
City. The waves would crash
at the base of the room, and
when the tide went down,
she would walk for hours
picking up sea glass and
agates.
She also loved Canada.
Three years ago, she went
to Whistler, and fell in love
with riding the gondolas.
She loved to travel.
Carla enjoyed being pam-
pered, and enjoyed fi ne din-
ing. She loved going to win-
eries to sit and enjoy a glass
of wine. Her favorite was
Mexican food, Mexican
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
SEASIDE POLICE DEPT.
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
Nov. 8
5:39 p.m., U.S. Highway 101
and Fifth Avenue: Motor vehi-
cle accident with serious inju-
ries reported. EMS on scene.
3:08 p.m., 800 block S. Roo-
sevelt: While responding to a
reported disturbance at a gas
pump, police arrest a subject
wanted on a felony warrant
issued by the Clatsop County
Sheriff ’s offi ce.
Nov. 7
6:13 p.m., 10th and Ne-
canicum: A disturbance is
reported.
10:05 p.m., Avenue U: Sus-
pects are trespassed from a
location after a disturbance is
reported.
8:21 a.m., Avenue K and the
Prom: Caller reports transient
sleeping on a bench with all
their belongings scattered.
Police make contact with the
person and advise them to
clean up their mess.
11:51 p.m., 12th and Franklin:
Caller reports “a half-naked fe-
male running down the road,
screaming.”
1:31 p.m., Avenue G: Juveniles
are reported acting suspicious.
Patrol says they will canvass
the area.
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CHILD CARE
Quality Child Care
Optimal Learning
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Infants
Toddlers
Preschool
After School
4:28 p.m., Avenue T and the
Prom: Police are advised of a
transient camp; on arrival, they
fi nd it unoccupied.
Nov. 9
6:45 a.m., 1900 Spruce Drive:
Caller says a man is at his front
door threatening to kill him. On
arrival, police determine the sub-
ject is on drugs. Medix is called.
503.717.2364
www.newbeescdc.com
Judith Gale
Capellen
Nov. 10, 2021
CAPELLEN, Judith
Gale, 79, of Seaside,
died in Seaside. Ocean
View Funeral & Cre-
mation Service of Asto-
ria is in charge of the
arrangements.
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DEATH NOTICE
Nov. 6
Nov. 5
shrimp cocktails and a bowl
of tortilla soup.
Carla had many health
challenges in 2010. She
went through open heart sur-
gery, and in 2012 she sur-
vived cancer. She had many
surgeries, and always fought
through it. She was a survi-
vor, and the toughest person
that I have ever met.
She loved sitting by a
fi re in the back yard, some-
times till dark, having dinner
outside by the fi re and, of
course, a glass of pinot gris.
Carla and Don were mar-
ried for 36 years and loved
each other every day.
Carla, you will be missed
by many, but never forgot-
ten. She was a pure and lov-
ing soul. On Oct. 31, 2021,
God came and took her
home. She will be reunited
with her parents and her sis-
ter in heaven. Sweetie, you
did an awesome job. We all
love you so much.
Please send any dona-
tions to the Oregon Health
and Sciences University
Northwest Clinic for Voice
and Swallowing, P.O. Box
29017, Portland, OR 97296
(give.ohsufoundation.org).
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