“Special” council meeting resolves: Lakesideinfo.com not part of city

At the St. Patrick’s Day special City Council meeting called by Mayor Orville Nelson, there was no apparent or obvious reasons given for having called an executive session prior to the meeting.

And whether or not it served the purpose of clearing the air, shouting could clearly be heard by those outside the closed doors of the meeting room at city hall.

And though executive sessions ordinarily discuss personnel decisions (there are limited purposes for which one can be held), there was no decisions voted on once open session began.

Often a vote is taken immediately after the closed session, giving a clue as to what was issue was discussed. Not this time.

As the regular special meeting began, there were also no department reports given, even though two of department heads were in attendance.

It was announced that there will no longer be a scheduled workshop in advance of the  regular meeting.

Councilor Elaine Armstrong pointed out that it had not had the effect of shortening and simplifying the regular meetings as she had hoped.

The appointment of an abatement officer and committee’s chairman will wait until later.

A motion was made distancing the city from Lakesideinfo.com.

Following is the verbatim rendering, as crafted by Attorney Rich Rodeman for Mayor Orville Nelson (Nelson has been keeping exclusive access to the former Oregon attrorney outside of meetings):

“I move that the city of Lakeside City Council declare that it has no association whatsoever with the website found at Lakesideinfo.com, and recognize that the US First Amendment and the Oregon Constitution authorizes private persons t the free expression of opinion.

“Nothing in this motion is intended to endorse, sanction, or authorize any content, news, gossip, or editorial material found at or on the web site”.

It was not elaborated on why Nelson had this motion created. It was approved 4-3.

(Editor’s note: Lakesideinfo.com has no problem with the motion, particularly  if it helps the mayor recognize that he is not able to censor the press and its watchdog responsibilities.)

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In other city business

The subject came up under new business of whether or not department heads should be required to attend meetings and give reports concerning their departments.

A motion was made by councilor Crockett to allow commissioner’s or their liaison to report on the departments instead of the boss, the second came from councilor Swift.

During discussion it was noted that some don’t even know what sewer department superintendent, Phil Heley, even looks like since he has yet to show up with a report.

The majority of the audience was in favor of department heads reporting, “it makes the department’s come alive,”  one audience member noted.

Dennis Langley, Public Works, Nadine Goodrich, Librarian, and Mike Mader, Watershed, were all given kudos for the activity of their departments and the way their reports excited interest.

Mrs. Phil Heley apparently spoke on behalf of her husband, as she is a vocal participant at the meetings. She said  that, “it should be up to the department heads to decide if they wanted to or not.”

After discussion and input from the audience, the vote was taken, resulting in a 5 to 2 vote to reject the motion and keep it as is. (Councilor Crockett and mayor Nelson were the two voting against the desire of the folks).

It was agreed that while the department heads will continue to report, Mayor Nelson will move things along so as not to hold them any longer than necessary.

The city will be advertising the position for clerical assistant after Suzy Marcy was terminated, necessitating the need to hire a replacement.