By Lois Krafsky-Perry
Citizen Review Tuesday October 20, 2015
Sequim, WA – Gil Goodman, who is running again for Clallam County Parks and Recreation District #1, challenged fellow members to follow the law.
At the September 25, Board meeting, for Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center, Goodman stated that some members have been, ‘polling’.
“For the past ten months, since before the run up, for the first levy action, I noticed certain board members pushing their agenda, by cornering other board member, comparing questions on a one-on-one basis, then going to the next board member and so-forth. This serial one on one effectively behind closed doors makes board decision time a formality and precludes the public from seeing the ‘collective decision making process.’ Polling such as telephone, email, or in person, of a majority or more of the council or board, outside a meeting that is open to the public, can be violation of the Open Public Meetings Act,” announced Goodman.
Board chairman Frank Pickering responded that all decisions have been made in accordance with the law, and that the item should be followed up, at the next board meeting, while attorney Craig Miller is present. The item was pushed to the next board meeting.
Goodman, a retired Coast Guard Captain, has one opponent vying for the board position. William Jeffers a retired banker is also running, in the November 3 race. He has never run for office.
The next board meeting is on October 21, 2015 at 5 PM, at City Center, in Sequim, at 152 E. Cedar Street.