Commentary by Lois Krafsky-Perry, News Editor
Sequim, WA – July 10, 2019
A crowd of approximately 160 people gathered at City Hall overflowing outside the hall and doors into the public square, Monday July 8th, to oppose the proposed plans for a medication assisted/addiction treatment center (MAT), near Costco and effecting other businesses, residences and property.
The work session meeting started at 5 PM and many came early to sign and speak to agenda items. At that Charlie Bush, City Manager, appointed by a former board, gave a presentation to the board on consensus and group think under the topic of “Team Decision Making.” His topic was diversity and consensus. He cited a book by Irving Janiss on the subject.
“If you leverage diversity everybody gets into group concept”, Bush remarked. Later he inserted, “there is something about open mindedness in a group setting,” He gave examples of practice teams in colleges and carefully steered the board and attendees into trying to understand consensus. (Read more about the consensus process here.)
When the scheduled 6 PM meeting was called to order, Barry Berezowsky, hired as the Community Development Director, approached the podium, where he remained, making remarks to the crowd and trying to answer questions and comments being offered from the attendees. He maintained the place at the podium and no one was asked to come forward and give their public comment as determined by their own rules for conduct (See Public Hearing Procedures on page 2 – click here).
Berezowsky stated that he had been to a meeting earlier with OMC ( Olympic Medical Center) and ‘the Tribe’. He did not say who the members were. When challenged by a woman about the topic, he answered, “I did not have coffee.”
Several people asked again for the public comment but were ignored. There were several sheets of names of those who had signed up for the public comment period slated at the beginning of the meeting. Mayor Dennis Smith, the city clerk or Bush did not secure the sheets or call the signers for public comment. After approximately a half hour with people standing and making comments, as well as Berezowsky answering, it was decided by Bush and Mayor Dennis Smith that there would have to be another meeting since they were out of time. The sign in sheets remained at the sign up table and were ignored. When Bush was asked about the signature pages, he referred to the city clerk, who immediately denied having them.
At one point in time, elected Sequim city councilor Bob Lake asked the crowd for a show of hands as to who opposed the project. Many raised their hands, although many of us did not. “Everyone’s voice has been heard, so now we have heard your position,” he announced. Apparently he does not understand proper procedure with public testimony.
At the close of the time allowed by Bush, a woman named Mary who said she was a nurse, scurried to the podium and was allowed to enter the podium area and speak. She apparently would be the only person appearing on the record, as stated in their public hearing procedures. I did not see her sign the public testimony pages, and if she did, was not one of the early signers.
The city council meeting agenda, which was located in the main foyer, states under Public Hearing Procedures that the speakers must enter their name and address and speak into the microphone, at the speakers rostrum.”No comments shall be made from any other location,” it states.
The mayor should be in control, according to their direction sheet. However, control was taken by the non-elected City Attorney Kristina Nelson-Gross, who sometimes threw out personal opinion comments, which incensed some of the attendees. When they attempted to answer her, she threatened to have them removed and told one lady to sit down, which she did not. Of interest is that over half the attendees were standing because of lack of chairs. Bush, also non-elected, made some comments, but most of the conversation with the attendees was with Berezowsky, who had taken up residence at the podium, therefore closing it to anyone who desired to go up and make comments.
The board and chairman Dennis Smith, who is also the mayor, appeared to have no authority. Most of the board remained silent and when asked by several people if they would share their views on the subject at hand, attorney Gross stepped in and denied them the privilege. She appeared to be the boss of the elected board.
At one point, board member Brandon Janisse asked if a moratorium on the development would be appropriate. Gross said she was unsure.
After most of the attendees were dismissed, it was announced that they would need to come to another meeting. The next scheduled meeting of the board is July 22nd. It was not said if the meeting place would be same to accommodate a probable double-in-number crowd. The crowd was encouraged to wait until a public announcement was made on the matter.
As most of the crowd left, I remained to finish my report on “procedure.”
It was most fascinating as I watched the other meetings on other matters. About the issues on the agenda, Gross was careful to make sure everyone who spoke was at the podium, “so we can get it into the record,” she announced.
It was confirmed that all the attendees – and there were many at the previous hearing – would not be in the record, which was not a surprise. That was another reason I stayed to make sure I was seeing the whole picture.
As I listened to other land use issues and plans, it was helpful to see how plans are made and/or determined. I also found it interesting how cordial everyone was to speakers on other matters and although Tim Woolett, senior planner for the City of Sequim, managed the podium, it was given to those who testified, who had signed in for their public meeting. Some were also allowed to give testimony who had apparently not signed to speak.
I left the meeting realizing that sometimes elected officials apparently have no idea how much power they have to speak and make determinations for their constituents. People are observing their participation as they make plans for the next election.
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