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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 2000)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, September 20, 2000 Citizens responded, 47J board must do their job Something remarkable happened this month when the Vernonia School District asked for applicants for two vacant school board positions. Not only were there applicants, there were nine citizens who expressed both the willingness and desire to accept responsibili ty for these unpaid positions. Before the interviews started, one applicant with drew because of job changes and another missed the interview because she is an emergency medical tech nician and was on an ambulance call. That still left a pool of seven applicants but, at that point, the 47J board looked like they were trying to act out the mean ing of the word “dysfunctional.” Following the interview process, the board used a numerical system to rank the applicants. One person easily came out on top, with two others close behind. None of that mattered once they actually had to vote. Five board members were at the meeting and at least four of them must agree in order to take any ac tion. The first ballot, for Leslie O’Leary, was 2 yes, 2 no, one abstain. The second ballot, for Jim Krahn, was 2 yes, 3 no. The third ballot, for Schann Nelson, was 3 yes, 2 no. The fourth ballot, for O’Leary, was 3 yes, 2 no. The fifth ballot, for O’Leary, was 3 yes, 2 no. At this point, there was a motion to table the ap pointment until the October meeting; 3 yes, 2 no. Sixth ballot, for Krahn, 2 yes, 2 no, 1 abstain. Finally, they approved a second effort to postpone the appointment until October. It is now abundantly clear that two more directors are desperately needed. What isn’t clear, is whether the board can reach agreement. How about acting out the meaning of the word “com promise?” City now has vacancy on the Planning Commission Measures coming up on the ballot in the November 7, 2000 General Election By Noni Andersen Because of the number of ballot measures facing voters in the general election, The IN DEPENDENT will start review ing them now. MEASURE 83, CONSTITU TIONAL AMENDMENT - Would increase by about $50 million per biennium the amount for veterans home and farm loans by changing lan guage for eligibility. Primarily, the change eliminates lan guage that no longer applies, such as requiring that active duty include service between Sept. 15, 1940 and Dec. 31, 1976. The additional funds would come from the issuance of bonds. We recommend a YES vote on Measure 83. sop County. Statewide mea sure, but it applies only to ur ban areas. Measure 85, no recommen dation. MEASURE 86, CONSTITU TIONAL AMENDMENT - Would place the “kicker” law for refunding general fund rev enues to taxpayers, which is now a statute, into the constitu tion; no other changes. Ore gon’s poor Constitution is going to develop fallen arches if the trend continues to add every thing to it that can be ade quately covered by statute. This amendment is not need ed. We recommend a NO vote on Measure 86. MEASURE 87, CONSTITU TIONAL AMENDMENT - Would allow zoning of sexually oriented businesses without having to show threatened or actual harm to the neighbor hood. We don’t think sexually oriented businesses should be allowed near schools or in res idential districts; aside from that, where should they be al lowed? The business isn’t ille gal so what is the intent of this measure and how would it work? Where would the sexu ally oriented business zone be established? What are the cri teria? Without specifics, we rec ommend a NO vote on Mea sure 87. MEASURE 84, CONSTU- Another important volunteer position is open, this TIONAL AMENDMENT - time in city government. Volunteer applicants are Would continue the require ment that state government needed for a position on the Vernonia Planning Com pay local governments for mission. costs of new state-mandated The planning commission is an advisory board to operations. In truth, there are the City Council and, in that capacity, often sees the huge costs to local government results of ordinance compliance or non-compliance that are the result of federal and state mandates, and which before the council is aware of a particular situation. Ap are paid by local government plications for variances and non-conforming uses go to (that is local taxpayers). Insofar the planning commission. As the name implies, there as this is of some help to local governments, it should be re is a lot of planning involved, also. For anyone with concerns about the direction of tained. Recommend a YES vote on growth in the community, there is no better position to Measure 84. learn the ins and outs of what can and can’t be done. MEASURE 85, CONSTITU Interested citizens may send a statement of interest TIONAL AMENDMENT - MEASURE 88 - Will review with a brief description of their qualifications. Applica changes population and mini mum area requirements for for this at a later date in conjunc tions must be received in City Hall no later than Oct. mation of new counties, reduc tion with MEASURE 91. 13, 2000. For more information, call city Planner Julie ing the geographic area but in Coontz at 429-5291. creasing the minimum popula MEASURE 89 - Would ded tion. It is unlikely that it could icate earnings from tobacco apply to Western Washington settlement proceeds to speci Oct. 17 is the last day to register County, and it doesn’t apply to fied health, housing and trans for the Nov. 7 General Election. any part of Columbia or Clat portation needs, including el derly and disabled transporta tion. As good as this sounds, we think it is the wrong way to use the funds. The settlement is for measurable public health costs resulting from tobacco use; it should be used for the Oregon Health Plan and tobac co prevention programs, noth ing else, or it will end up being spread all over the map of so cial services. Recommend a NO vote on Measure 89. MEASURE 92 and MEA SURE 98, are two faces of the same coin. They both are de signed to weaken the collective strength of public employee unions. MEASURE 92, CONSTITU TIONAL AMENDMENT - Would prohibit payroll deduc tions for “political purposes” without specific written autho rization by each individual em ployee. For the purpose of this measure, deductions would be used for political purposes if any portion is spent directly or indirectly on contributions, lob bying, ballot measures or initia tives. In other words, if a letter went to a campaign committee or political party and the stamp was paid for with union funds, that would be a violation. Not only is this ridiculous, if it passes it’s a good candidate to fail judicial review, which would only cost us (the taxpay ers) to defend it. Unions cannot require political contributions and the U.S. Supreme Court has made some pretty strong rulings regarding the role of payroll contributions and free speech. MEASURE 98 WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT IS SUE, OCTOBER 4TH.
