Timing of complaint filed against Lakeside City Recorder called into question

Lynn Lundquist

The day before she was slated for a restructuring of her position at the regular Lakeside city council meeting, a complaint was filed against City Recorder Charlene “Charlie” Hill by Lynn Lundquist, a delinquent sewer customer.

Suspicion was raised not only about the timing of the complaint, but also because it was hand delivered by Mayor Orville Nelson to city hall, who the next day stood in opposition to Charlene Hill’s new position.

There was a proposal that Hill would become the City Recorder/Administrator without a pay increase, at the regular August city council meeting. The retention of the title “City Recorder as well as Administrator” is because the Lakeside City Charter requires the city have a “city recorder.”

Mayor Nelson and his supporters voiced opposition to Hill’s newly defined position. In the new position, Hill would be directly in charge of Phil Heley, the former sewer plant supervisor and personal friend of Nelson.

In the complaint raised by Lynn Lundquist about Hill, he stated, “it was an unpleasant experience, he was lied to, she was condescending and rude.”

Councilor Swift, liaison for city personnel, did some research and found that there had been no conversation between the complainant and the City Recorder concerning his account since 2005.

Lundquist had been in arrears on his sewer account (according to city records) starting in August 2003.

The City Sewer clerk stated, “they had not kept up their payment plan and failed to contact the city, that is why the interest began to accrue. At one point he was 22 months in arrears.”

She also explained, “It is the same for all citizens in Lakeside. A 10% late fee per month is placed on the total balance of the account.” It is a long standing City policy.

It was agreed by the council that the Sewer Clerk will present a payment plan at the next council meeting on behalf of Lundquist.

At the same meeting as the appointment, the council was considering formally approving and defining the new city administrator position’s duties.

Critics in the audience believed that the new role would put one person in charge, bypassing the Mayor. The originator of the complaint Lynn Lundquist said, “How does it help the city? It’s thrown the power into one person.”

Up until a month before Nelson took office in 2007, Susan Chauncy was the city administrator who held a similar role as the one being touted for Hill. Chauncy opted to retire in late 2006 and was not replaced.

Hill was promoted to City Recorder/Assistant Administrator soon after Chauncy’s departure..

At that time some critics of then City Administrator Susan Chauncy, argued that the charter did not allow for a city administrator. Mirroring that sentiment, Kathy Gould spoke from the audience stating that her view is that the charter doesn’t allow for the city to have an administrator, only a city recorder.

Mayor Nelson requested a ruling from then City Attorney Rich Rodeman. He ruled that it was legal for the City to have a City Recorder/ Administrator.

All department heads make request for one go to person

Up until the passage of Resolution_09-16 the sewer plant employees were not required to honor the authority of the City Recorder. Mayor Nelson had taken that responsibility onto himself since his election in 2007.

Nelson’s oversight of the wastewater plant eventually led to potential sanctions against the City for not having a qualified supervisor. His hiring of Phil Heley who has no certification has come into question, along with the accumulation of comp time on Phil Heley’s part.

Comp time when not burned off according to personnel rules leaves a liability to the city. Heley’s comp time amounts to thousands of dollars.

Chrysta Swift personnel liaison, has been in contact with League of Oregon Cities. They stated to her that, “an elected official has no right to manage a department or interfere with the management of a department, it is not following the law.”

The Counsel, according to Swift, had the goal of making it clear who was in charge. “Legally, that person cannot be the Mayor or the Councilor’s.

Mayors and Councilors come and go, but the employees continue on. This gives continuity to a city.”

The City Administrator/City Recorder Charlie Hill, explained that, “it will reduce micro-management letting department heads do their jobs. All the department heads had requested the change.”

Hill also stated, “They will report to the Administrator, in turn the Administrator will go to the council or the appropriate department liaison. This will improve communication between all involved.”

The council passed resolution 09-16 with one vote of opposition from Orville Nelson, Mayor. Councilor Crockett was absent.