City Manager questions Council activities in memo
July 3rd, 2008 - 3:40pm
(Port Angeles) -- Alleged inappropriate activities by some individual Port Angeles City Council members has the City Manager questioning their effectiveness and his future.
Newsradio 1450 KONP has obtained a memo from City Manager Mark Madsen to the city council stemming from an executive session earlier this week.
In it, he espresses concerns regarding two primary issues.
Madsen says poor relationships between city council members are affecting the credibility and the ability of the council to
govern the city.
The memo says the negative impact of the personal and collective actions of council members on city staff has caused Madsen to rethink his ability to continue serving as the city manager.
Madsen cited instances of certain council members effectively undermining legitimate city business by approaching personnel and leaders in other agencies in the community and stating personal opinions regarding City affairs.
Examples include questioning the legitimacy of the process of creating the recently formed Harborworks Development Authority, after the full Council had approved the measure between the Port and the City.
Madsen was also cited council members contacting members of the Clallam Business Incubator, challenging the legitimacy of the President of that Board to sign a future agreement between the incubator and the city.
Madsen also cited some council members interfering with personnel and labor matters, including a pending candidate selection for a new Deputy Chief of Police.
He went on to list possible city council member intrusions into police investigations, including at least one criminal case in which a citation had been issued, but which had not yet gone to court.
Madsen declined to comment on his statements at this time and did not name any individual council members.
Mayor Gary Braun wanted to withhold comment for now.
The next city council meeting is July 15th.
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