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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2000)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, March 15, 2000 ih . INDEPENDENT Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice monthly, on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064, as a free newspaper. Edi tors and Publishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen. Phone/Fax: (503) 429-9410. Council ignores law on public meetings “The public doesn’t need to know,” seems to be the message sent by the Vernonia City Council on March 6th. Vernonia Mayor Art Parrow called an executive ses sion following the March 6 public meeting to consider “reprimand of a police officer” and “potential litigation,” then used the closed door meeting to characterize the citizens who made public complaints about the police department as unworthy of consideration. The process also meant that Chief of Police Jim Walters defended the criticism of his department in pri vate, not in public as the citizens had done. There was little of a confidential nature in Walters comments and he did a good job. Both he and his department would have been better served if his response had been public. The INDEPENDENT would not be commenting on anything that happened in the executive session ex cept that the mayor and the two council members pre sent violated the public meetings law by making an of ficial decision behind closed doors...agreeing to sup port the department by writing a letter for publication. There is nothing wrong with the support. What is wrong is violating both the spirit and the letter of the open meetings law by voting on a position in a closed meeting instead of limiting themselves to discussion, then recording a vote in public meeting. Both Mayor Parrow and Councilor Leonetti have been involved in local government too long to be ig norant of the law. Ball is fairly new, but needs to think for herself and not just follow that conveniently slip pery slope. Since our elected officials ignore the law, it is time for City staff to speak up and “help” the council remember that limits also apply to them. Decisions and meetings Jack Peterson, chair of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, couldn’t explain how or when the board made the decision not to meet with Vernonia cit izens about the linear trail extension. Previously, Com missioner Rita Bernhard said it was just a mutual agreement, they never discussed it in a meeting. The INDEPENDENT asked the question because a Friday meeting in Vernonia was aborted by an acci dent that prevented Peterson and Bernhard from get ting here in time. The following Monday, Bernhard said the board agreed they would not set another date for the meeting...but there was no official meeting be tween that Friday afternoon and Monday. Obviously, they made a decision, but it certainly wasn’t in public. At the March 6 meeting of the Vernonia council, when asked again about the decision, Bernhard ex plained that it wasn’t a “legitimate” meeting with Ver nonia citizens, anyway, because the board only want ed to take a tour and hadn’t planned on actually talk ing to people. Does this mean that only elected officials can call “legitimate” meetings? Don’t choke on your laughter! Letters to the Editor Mayor, council are police review board To the Editor: Recently there have been citizen complaints leveled at our local police force. These complaints have been largely that law enforcement has been too rigid and overly aggressive and that this has driven people away from downtown eve nings, forcing bars and restau rants to close early for lack of customers. After review and considera tion of the testimony given, I would like to respond to those claims as the Mayor of Vernon ia with the approval of the Council members. First, it is true that on occa sion some officers have dis played a lack of courtesy and diplomacy in carrying out their duties. They do need to per form as peace officers as well as police officers. It should suf fice to say that lack of confor mity to reasonable guidelines has resulted in dismissal from the Vernonia police force. It should also be noted that dis missal occurred before the citi zens’ appearance at the coun cil meeting. Secondly, it was suggested that a citizen’s police review board be appointed. Such a committee already exists. It is the elected City Council. The Council has the authority to es tablish policy and the power to hire and fire. It also has the re sponsibility to recommend ap proval or denial for liquor li cense applications. The Council also must represent the desires of all of our 2400+ citizens. Restaurants and bars clos ing early can be contributed to many reasons other than cus tomers afraid of being in Ver nonia at night because of po lice tactics: A. Most Vernonians have their dinners in the early evening, seldom after eight o’ clock. B. Some business owners do not want to work the extend ed hours from logger breakfast time until midnight or later. C. Some of the local busi ness places do not offer varied menus or a real “dine-out” at mosphere. Local citizens may prefer out-of-town dining expe riences where cuisine and sur roundings make an evening out a “special” event. D. Many potential customers are out of town for other rea sons. Commuters frequently do much of their business out of town and do not support many of the local businesses. E. Many of our working class citizens have to make an early morning start to their jobs so they do not spend a lot of late night hours in a bar. F. Over 50% of our popula tion have incomes below the federal poverty level, plus a large number of senior citizens live on very limited pensions. They may have to make a choice of a night out on the town or buying groceries and paying their bills. No one should need to be afraid of the police if they con form to the laws. Both patrons of the bars and the owners have responsibilities. A social time and a few games of pool are not going to get anyone in trouble. Responsible citizens do not drink and drive. Drinking to excess, or serving alcohol to an intoxicated person, is not acceptable. We can never af ford to ignore the statistics on automobile accidents and fatal ities where alcohol and/or drugs are involved. If police presence and enforcement prevents the violation of the drinking and driving laws or re- duces/eliminates family fights, spouse and child abuse, as saults or other social and eco nomic problems, all I can say is GREAT! Instructing police officers not to enforce all laws is like telling NBA officials not to call fouls unless there is bloodshed and broken bones. Running back ground checks on drivers stopped for various infractions is an acceptable method of checking for suspended licens es, lack of insurance, stolen ve hicles, drug transportation and other more serious offenses. Courtesy and diplomacy by officers is expected and de manded. The City Council will work with Chief Walters to in sure that the proper training and supervision of officers is accomplished. At the same time, the police officers should be commended for providing the public services they render. A police officer risks his life every time he approaches someone in violation of the law. We have had one Vernonia of ficer killed in the line of duty, we do not need a repeat. A vast majority ef Vernonia citizens live here because of the peace and tranquility. They have frequently voiced a de mand that all laws and ordi nances be rigidly enforced. They want the streets of Ver nonia to be safe — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I hope they stay that way. Mayor Art Parrow Councilor Mario Leonetti Councilor Cindy Bail
