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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 2007)
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” Vol. 22, No. 9 City administrator seemingly reluctant to answer questions Don’t Drink and Drive… Emergency personnel free driver of one car from wreck. See page 24 for complete story. Bassett suit for “emotional distress” seeks $400,000 Vernonia residents may utilize free health screenings A lawsuit filed April 13, by former city administrator Robyn Bassett, names the City of Ver- nonia and Sally Harrison, indi- vidually and in her official ca- pacity as Mayor, as defen- dants. Bassett is asking for a total of $400,000 for economic loss and emotional distress and in- jury to reputation. Basset was Vernonia Public Works Director until being employed as City Administrator from February, 2005, until she resigned on or Free health screenings will be offered at the Vernonia School District parking lot on Saturday, May 12, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A mobile unit will provide screenings for vision, hearing, diabetes (fast for three hours prior to diabetes testing), glau- coma, and blood pressure. Tests are available to any Ver- nonia resident. The free health screenings are provided by the Vernonia Lions Club. about June 18, 2006 (accord- ing to the lawsuit). The basis of the lawsuit is the claim that Harrison told Bassett she could resume the position of Public Works Direc- tor if she would resign as city administrator but that, when she did resign, Harrison and the city council refused to rein- state her to the position of Pub- lic Works Director. The City of Vernonia had not made any response to the law- suit as of April 27. May named Older Americans Month On May 1, Vernonia Mayor Sally Harrison proclaimed May to be Older Americans Month and she urged all citizens to honor older adults, and those who care for them, during May and throughout the year. Fifteen-percent of citizens in the Vernonia area are 60 years of age or older and make up a diverse group who continue to contribute to our nation’s social and economic well-being. Mayor Harrison went on to urge everyone to promote and participate in activities that con- tribute to helping older Ameri- cans make choices for a healthy and rewarding future. May 3, 2007 The Independent, in an ef- fort to provide the community with information on the city’s fi- nancial shape in light of the $374,000+ deficit in the Eco- nomic Development Fund of the 2006-2007 budget, has been asking questions of Ver- nonia City Administrator, M.R. “Dick” Kline. When Kline indi- cated an inability to understand our questions, when presented verbally, The Independent pre- sented them in writing. Here are the questions and his an- swers, verbatim. Editor’s Notes add information that was not in the original letter. Kline’s an- swers are shown in italics: 1. Which part of the $374,000+ shortfall in the Com- munity Development Fund can be attributed to; Vernonia Com- munity Learning Center; OA Hill Bike/Ped project, Other (please specify project and dol- lar amount). A recap of the shortfalls and cash flow problems in the Com- munity Development Fund will be an important part of the budget presentation this year. Detailed answers to project shortfalls will be available start- ing next week. 2. Is there a business plan (or plan for being self-support- ing) for the Vernonia Communi- ty Learning Center? [Editor’s Note: When asked this ques- tion verbally at a meeting a few weeks ago, Kline answered, “No, there is no money in the budget for a business plan”]. There is a business plan for the Learning Center that was drafted by Jesse Jones as a re- quirement of the CDBG process. This plan will be mod- ified/updated periodically to re- flect new opportunities avail- able to the center . 3. When is the Learning Center expected to be self-sup- porting? It looks like the Learning Center may be self sufficient next fiscal year. Again, until we go through the budget process it is too early to say definitively. 4. Is the Learning Center currently bringing in enough money to pay; the loan pay- ments on the $25,000 loan? the contract employee (Jesse Jones) contract amount of $1,541.67? The Learning Center budget reflects a transfer from the General Fund this year. There- fore, regular center operations are not generating a positive cash flow so far this budget year. Revenues have been in- creasing at the center, and as stated previously, the center may break even as early as next year. 5. Is it true that the Learning Center Director position will be a city employee (rather than a contract service) starting July 1, 2007? If so, at what salary? Next year’s budget shows the Director position to be staffed by a contract service employee. If the City deter- mines it is in the best interests of the City to staff the position with a city employee, a job de- scription will be drafted, it will be presented to Council for ap- proval, and the necessary budget resolution will be delib- erated and adopted at a regular City Council meeting. 6. Please indicate the “dire financial situation” the city is in (per your previous remarks). [Editor’s Note: Kline’s previous remark, made verbally, was “The citizens don’t know the dire financial situation the city is in.”] I don’t know what you mean by “indicate the dire financial situation the City is in”. A com- Please see page 4
