i am a long-term nehalem resident who has been following manzanita city council discussions and decisions.
i would like to comment on your narrative in your BBQ post.
1) “our deeply rooted, well regarded and honorable mayor ….” deb simmons is not deeply rooted in manzanita. she was a political unknown when she ran for mayor. she had no previous government experience, so i would think that she is neither “well regarded” nor “not well regarded.” based on her tenure as mayor, she has certainly garnered both of those appellations. i do know that she was a well-regarded fifth grade school teacher in nehalem grade school for a number of years after her “retirement” to manzanita,
2) i also don’t get why there is an ongoing investigation, and i agree with you that it is opaque to the public. i am aghast that it has cost the city of manzanita 6 figures in expense (don’t get me started on the hourly rate that lawyers charge). i do understand that whatever this is, the council was informed of the employee complaint by the city attorney in May 2023, and the council voted unanimously in June 2023 to authorize the independent investigation that was strongly advised by the city attorney and their insurer. It would certainly be more comfortable for all on the city council if they could release more information, but legally they cannot. i do not think there is a “cover-up” by city council members. it’s typical in litigation to not publicize ongoing discussions. i agree that it IS frustrating to not really know what is going on.
3) i had high hopes for deb simmons’ tenure as mayor. then already in the first months of her tenure i learned two things that i thought were odd.
a) she refused the traditional conversation with the outgoing mayor. i thought to myself, “hmmm…. that’s strange.”
b) she nixed the new planning commission appointees that had been selected with due process. i thought this action was also strange, since she was brand new in her tenure as mayor. (i also wondered how she got to unilaterally nix due process and appoint who she wanted.)
4) as the months continued i learned that deb simmons refused all discussion with other council members except at public meetings. i found this also strange. especially as a newbie to politics, you would think one-on-one discussion with fellow council members would be valuable.
5) while you state you are in the dark about the investigation, nevertheless you have come to the conclusion that “there have been no findings of wrongdoing by the Mayor and the council is covering it up.” do we know that this investigation involves the former mayor? do we know that her resignation has anything to do with the employee complaint investigation? i am wondering what facts led you to this conclusion.
6) “hundreds of grassroots petition signers” is an exaggeration. manzanita has a population of 633 permanent residents. that’s how many people get to vote (if they are registered—which i would guess most of them are). i believe the petition signers represented about 20% of that number (and were they all permanent residents? were they all registered voters?).
7) “The council has demonstrated a pattern of overlooking smart, experienced citizens to fill vacancies on the council….”
a) when the council appointed kathryn stock to the council to fill a vacancy, i read all the letters of application. hers stood out head and shoulders above the others, both for the level of intelligence about city concerns, and for the depth of her work experience that would stand her in good stead. the council didn’t “overlook” anyone; they picked who seemed to them to be the best candidate.
b) ditto when the council picked brad hart to fill a vacancy.
8) “our mayor was elected by hundreds of voters….” 356 to be exact. running unopposed.
9) “A minority of loud activists appears to be calling the shots….” from attending city council meetings, the council members appear to me to be both thoughtful and well-prepared. they are intelligent, successful-in-their-careers, retired citizens who have chosen to serve the city and its residents on city council. i have had conversation with each of them at one time or another. i don’t believe any of them sits on city council for personal gain, or for any undisclosed motive. they just want to bring their capability and experience to serve the citizens of the city in which they live. i don’t think any of them are listening to “loud activists.”
10) i’m wondering what are the facts that justify you stating that the current city council is dominated by an “anti-diversity, anti-inclusive mindset….”
i agree with you, linda, that the fracturing of the community is very sad. where i don’t agree with you is as i’ve listed above.
om peace namaste
lucy brook
nehalem resident
Troubles in Manzanita
Posted on December 17, 2023 by North Coast BBQ
Submitted By: hildiballard@gmail.com
Friends and Neighbors,
“If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking”
George S Patton to his troops
The troubling developments of the last few weeks in Manzanita have citizens worried. Our deeply rooted, well-regarded and honorable Mayor felt the need to resign her position, this, subsequent to the resignation of two city councilors this year and the sudden ‘retirement’ of a long term city hall employee. What is going on in Manzanita?
An opaque employee complaint emerged this year and an investigation has been ongoing, for months, with the citizens footing the bill of $139,000.00 and counting. Citizen requests for investigation findings have been stonewalled. If there has been wrongdoing we need to know about it. This investigation is a public record and subject to disclosure. The city council has not been transparent about the issue furthering distrust. Citizens remain in the dark.
My conclusion is that there have been no findings of wrongdoing by the Mayor and the council is covering it up. The power of ugly innuendo has served its purpose resulting with the Mayor’s resignation. Had there been any wrongdoing you can be sure that information would have leaked all over the place. Who is responsible for this expensive mess.?
Our Mayor was elected by hundreds of voters and sought to represent them by asking tough questions. She pushed back on spending matters for which we applaud her. She pushed back on ‘group think’.
The failures of this council to cultivate diversity of opinion is costly. Some seek unity in the community, but unity is built on trust and that trust is absent here.
A minority of loud activists appears to be calling the shots while hundreds of grassroots petition signers have been ignored. It is time to act inclusively and respect and include diverse opinions.
The council has demonstrated a pattern of overlooking smart, experienced citizens to fill vacancies on the council (despite their repeated efforts) and this further erodes trust – goodbye unity.
It is time to root out the anti-diversity, anti-inclusive mindset that dominates the current city council. The damage done so far is enough, the body count too high, the fracturing of the community too sad.
Linda Ballard
Manzanita Homeowner