Well, last night's county council meeting was marred with yet another major process error.
(Please note that Barbara Brenner will disagree with my assertion that there have been other process errors).
You see, Barbara did not hesitate to publicly criticize a citizen who had just publicly expressed his displeasure with the county's practice of asking for applications; formally closing the application process; then appointing a person who filed an application or was nominated by a councilor after the county's published deadline had passed.
If Brenner is correct, and no deadline actually exists to submit an application to a board, committee or even a vacancy on the council -- then perhaps she can explain why the county continues to publish deadlines for applications on the website?
Apparently, appearance of fairness issues are not Barbara's cup of tea!
But I digress. Last night, Barbara Brenner announced that she had accidently submitted the wrong draft of an ordinance to repeal the septic inspection rules to staff -- and informed the audience that the ordinance in the packet was not the ordinance she intended to introduce or wanted passed. The council held a hearing anyway.
There are an estimated 30,000 septic tanks in Whatcom County. In 2009, approximately 6,000 tanks were inspected under Whatcom County's Inspection ordinace. The Whatcom County Health Department reported that 30% of the tanks inspected required maintenance and that 4% of the septic tanks inspected had failed.
Regretably, I could not stay at the meeting past 10 p.m., so I can not tell readers what the council decided to do with the septic inspection ordinance.
But it wouldn't have mattered if I'd stayed. I couldn't hear the testimony or council comments thanks to all of the loud conversations taking place in the chambers and the rotunda.
This much I do know. The council chambers were not under Sam Crawford's control and the public in attendance in the rear of the chamber missed critical testimony and council comments because of it.
Members of the audience clapped loudly to support individuals who asked the council to repeal the existing septic inspection ordinance. But no one clapped for a nurse who articulately voiced concerns about potential adverse public health effects of failing systems. And, no one clapped after a representative from the state Dept. of Ecology asked council to please reconsider repealing the ordinance. And, sadly, no one clapped after listening to the testimony of a woman who had survived a deadly outbreak of Salmonella.
I wonder, will the same people clap loudly if Whatcom County has an outbreak of waterborne disease?
Or, will they trip over one another as they rush to schedule an appointment with a local attorney who specializes in personal injury?
Only time will tell...
MRSC link to Whatcom County prodedure for amending, repealing or adopting an ordiance:
Well isn't that typical.
ReplyDeleteA public hearing on the wrong ordinance. Did they give the audience a chance to review the new one or was it not submitted yet? What are the differences? Was this planned do you think? I believe back in the days of Dawson, Starkenburg, et al this happened often. I remember during the GMA debates they even posted meetings at one site, then changed them at the last minute so the interested parties had to get from thee back to the Chambers in time to miss most of it. So the turnout was Tea Partiers? or the old pro boat crowd from Whatcom or just our garden variety bozos? How many spoke from the North country?
A handful of people attended from Blaine, Semiahmoo and Point Roberts.
ReplyDeleteWe (the public) were not allowed to see a copy of the new ordinance. There was dicussion about adopting the ordinance in the packet (as an interim ordinance) with the understanding that the council would amend it in the future.
County health volunteered to implement the changes administratively.
They should have scheduled a new hearing so the public could examine the ordinance that the council wants to adopt.
Another end run.
A Disgusting circus, as predicted. Ward's presence makes this who thing a sham. Brenner is over due to be retired to what ever pasture she belongs in.
ReplyDelete"Trust us, really."
They are from the government, after all.
Brenner can practice some more:
"The check is in the mail."
"I'll respect you in the morning."
"Really, those pants don't make your ass look big."
Pardon off topic, but I was reading an old blog from Oct 7, 2009? where you and Camille? were discussing the bloggers who gang up on others at Mr. Taylor's blog and I would have to say after reading the last few months of posts on Bellingham politics and especially the last couple of weeks of posts that it indeed is happening on Mr. Taylor's blog still. AFY, Madbee, Dave6, Silent Majority, Karlberg, Liberty Bell and others who apparently are to the right on the spectrum run the place and the postings of AFY seem to always be pointed and personal at the few from the left side of the spectrum in the most ridiculous distortions of language I've read other than in text messages.
ReplyDeleteDoes this AFY think he is cute? The poster Liberty Bell seems to always speak only in old often irrelevant quotes that make me think he must be part of what we down here view as the insanoid Tea Party. Mr. Karlberg seems to be extremely pompous, what does he do? Is he a poltician as well?
The poster who seemed to be the focus of so much ire lately, though he had a few supporters, seemed to respond in kind out of frustration, but who can blame him? I went back even further and was astonished to read some of the things they were allowed to say about the poster and the chiding he got from Mr. Taylor when he responded in kind. What kind of nastiness is that?
The blog seems to be run like a 4th grade class with a stern, old school, ruler slapping school teacher handing out a sort of on-line corporal punishment. Then I ventured into two or three other BH blogs and found more info on the controversy in past recent posts. I was amazed how this guy Taylor constantly scolds the others and calls their maturity into question. Nice folks----not. It made me wonder about ever posting there. I wouldn't want to give my e-mail address to someone like that just to participate. Someone said after they submitted their e-mail it was used to chide them before they had even got started posting on the blog.
Again, thank you. Yours, Dennis
Since the poster apparently was banned, it seems to be all right wing perspective, except for some very intelligent poster named Todd 2. I also noticed Mr. Taylor also seems to go after you fairly often. Profesional rivalry? Anyway, I was just curious. I think from what I've read on your pages you are much saner and definitely more mature than Mr. Taylor. Has this person been a reporter for very long or is he new to town? My company is moving me up there in two months so I have been exploring what I can from here in Sacramento. I always heard Bellingham was progressive, but I wonder now? I have always gotten involved in politics in any community I live in, but I really wonder. Is the Bellngham Herald pretty much a right wing organ?
Finally, on topic. This situation with changing a proposal during a public hearing on it sounds just like the most prime example of twisted and unprofessional small town politics you might find in a much smaller rural communtiy without any institutions of higher learning. Can't wait to get there and add my two cents worth once I get to know the lay of the landscape better.
Then I read this blog and it looks as though the county is run by a newly elected rightist cabal tht is bent on s[purning public pricess and reversing a lot of things done by what must ahve been a previous council of more balanced peole? But I have no knowledge of that. I guess maybe I should go all the way back to the elections. It all sounds pretty wild. Are the elected council people just part timers? Anyway, thank you for letting me post here and I hope my off topic questions aren't an intrusion. Maybe I'll even meet you in a few months. You have nice a blog by the way.
While editing I moved my closing for some reason. Better luck next time
ReplyDeleteNow I see what happened, I was so long winded I forgot to proof my last paragraph. Well you get the gist of it and I will try to do better in the future.
ReplyDeleteAll they are setting up through these shenanigans is the likelihood of being eventually sued for the lack of due process on some decision or the other. This will cost the County money and may result in a great deal of embarrassment as well as dimmed political futures for some of our Cascade Cowboys and Girls..
ReplyDeleteThat said, I cannot avoid a certain dark humor about last night's proceedings...so much energy and so much praise heaped on Barbara and Sam -- the Heroes of the Septic Tank Revolution! What should be their mottoes? "They will lead us through poop" "No government in our Poop!" "Poop free or Die!"...
I just have not come up yet with the right frame for this but I am working on it!
Dennis C,
ReplyDeleteYour understanding of Taylor's blog at the Herald is spot on with few exceptions. For the most part, it has evolved into a kindergarten for people with too much time on their hands.
Doug Karlberg, Todd2, and a few others are the exception. In particular, Mr. Karlberg is a retired business man and is very intelligent and thoughtful. He has run for mayor and port commissioner. He should not be grouped with the others.
AFY is also very intelligent but uses Taylor's blog more for humor than for content. Taylor has completely lost the handle on his commenters. A shame.
You also hit the mark regarding Bellingham's small time politics. For the most part, our electeds are certainly not our leaders. At this time, all city and county councils are part time positions.
You might also be interested in another local blog, Northwest Citizen at: http://nwcitizen.us
Hope your move to Bellingham is every thing you hope for.
Well Elie F, I can't remember the last time a right leaning county council felt embarassment for being sued. Or left leaning for that matter? They'll wear it like a badge, they'll campaign on it, sure it will cost the county but someone will have to stimulate the local legal economy by hiring the usual B squad attorney, and we'll be off the the races.
ReplyDeleteSo all we have right now is the humor to steel our resolve and soothe the savage breast.. With apologies to Jack J, "....who needs fish when we've got bums, who needs thoughts when we've got none....we went beyond where we should have gone, we went beyond where we should have gone..."
So may I suggest a little good natured ribbing humor. Potty humor, as it were, without the potty mouth if you can believe that.
I'm sure some nicknames for council members will come from this and some will write memoirs of it to pass out during the next election, so may I suggest some nicknames and some memoir titles. Some may even go on to open mike musical careers and Channel 10 acting roles.
Barbara Brenner: You Go Tank Girl
Septic Sam the Septic Man, on Baffling Inspections for Daddies.
Ward Smellsom, on The Road to the Throne
Carl Squirmer, My Life in the Flow Lane
KrashKourse Kathy , I Can See the Absorption Field from My Window.
Ken Smilesalot and the Effluent, Born Under a Bad Slime, the first of many albums.
Little Willy and the Inhalers, Carry My Sludge, a single on the album Down Under
Are you feelin' better, if only for a snicker?
Le Comediene - please don't lump Carl in the those poopheads. That's just wrong. He gave us the straight poop on his blog and good for him for telling it like it is! But Septic Sam is exactly right.
ReplyDeleteDennis C - you've got it right here in our little burg. It's more conservative than you'd think from the outside. Good old boys. And by boys, I do mean boys. The city council is all male. Someone referred you to NWCitizen? Ignore it, most of us do, it's all cranky boys with various dull axes to grind.
You can read our local weekly, Cascadia Weekly online, but it's a little like watching West Wing during the Bush years. An alternative reality.
This blog cuts through a lot to bring us straight info. Thank you Elisabeth! You do good work, all the time.
Dennis C:
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree in general that the rightwingers are not easy to embarrass, the poopy nature of this and the attendant humor just will not serve them well politically, if played correctly. But future opponents have to ready to "get a little dirty" and be willing to make it "splatter" a little. Also, my experience is that humor is sometimes the most effective way to wither...
We'll see. I think they will offer many options before its all over
It's comedy, no one is exempt. Plus he's on the council and besides I think I captured the moment well and wasn't being cruel at all, or certainly didn't mean it that way . We are in a low flow state on the council. We don't have the fast lane anymore. Also, They only love it when we wring our hands and get all agitated, it feeds their Tea drenched egos. Isn't the better response to laugh hautily and nail
ReplyDeletetheir bums. Then condescendingly show some insincere self deprecation while acting as though they are the joke they don't get?
All I can say at this point is Yikes!
ReplyDeleteOne would hope that some learning might take place, but between Crawford, Brenner and Nelson we have 44 years of council experience. Now tell me, do you think that can learn how to follow the law, appearance of fairness or simply run a civil meeting?
Dennis C.
ReplyDeleteWe're a bit quirky here in the Pacific NW, but we still manage to have fun!
Please feel free to join us as soon as you have settled in to your new home!
Le' Comediene de Politique
ReplyDeleteThanks!
:)
It was really my pleasure Madame E.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, you know if you just hit name and type in any clever or boring name you want, it would feel more like a conversation, less cold. However I won't hold any pseudonym against you, unless it's mine.
I have to talk to that anonymous animal person, I am an avowed cat person so ....
Dennis, you 've got some great material too.
A pleasure all.
You know, a few posters to the Herald Blogs and others just use their real name...Mayor Pike, City Councilman Snapp, County Councilmember Crawford, County Planning Commission Chair Melious, citizen activist Wendy Harris, me,....
ReplyDeletearen't we all a little tired of bloggers whose online bravado masks real world courage?
John Lesow
John, sometimes people use names because they wish to either play the advocate to stir more debate, or to express a different opinion without having to hear from the Bellingham grapevine or worse what a putz one is for daring to express said opinion.
ReplyDeleteYou're right it is too easy to fall pray to the loose clever comment on-line without regard to feelings. But does that justify someone, hiding under layers of identity themselves, outing someone--especially just an opinion?
If one is not an insider, has no power and only has opinions is the offense of incivility justification for public rebuke on a grand scale?
What would you have one do after that, cut one's wrist, hang oneself in the town square, go into exile, Shut the f up? Isn't that exactly the opposite of the principles so embraced by the left? Or is it all just "vengeance is mine?"
One can post under an assumed name, even differing with friends by saying something they wouldn't say in person and still have real world courage.
A pitchfork carrying mob using facebook
or blogs to pull someone into the light is still just a mob.
I know people around here like to carry grudges against those who dare to disagree. I have heard the grudges and the bravado personally and constantly, and the rumors that are spread and are spreading as we speak.
This town loves to spread the word on poitical foes, that's politics. It's not all nice and clean and without base emotion. In fact, if you ask me, politics is at least half emotional.
And isn't it easy to say that someone who does not share your view and whom you do not know, lacks "real world courage?" Isn't that just making assumptions based on your beliefs which others may not share?
Re: anonymous bloggers.
ReplyDeleteIt's a long held tradition to publish opinions anonymously in this country.
"Prey of the outraged" raises valid concerns about the fallout from posting opinions online.
Our community is thin-skinned and political grudges appear to last forever.
Not everyone is able to post under their own names.
I use an assumed name now and then because I used to be able to blow the whistle on things in certain realms where the grudges go beyond thin skinned and all the way to punitive. Those whistle blowings have even led to applause for doing so. But then I dared to register disareement with a local celebrity, friended by many, and now am a pariah and can blow no more.
ReplyDeleteI guess in a twist of irony the dirty work was attempted by someone with whom I disagreed who posts not only in an assumed named, but who also has changed their name or has an alias.
You're telling me there are some thin skins...
.....whenever you challenge someone's political opinion in the Ham it is viewed as a personal attack. Really? I thought that's what the free sharing of political opinions was about. Here it seems if you don't toe the party line you will be ostracized.
ReplyDeleteElisabeth, is it possible to have a private conversation with you?
ReplyDeleteOf course it's possible to have a private converstation with me. Click my name under the "about us"
ReplyDeletetab on the right my email is listed on the left- hand side of my bio!
I look forward to hearing from you!
Click my name next to my photo and you will be taken directly to my e-mail.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I can't send anything on an imap.e-mail popup
ReplyDeleteSo I will get a new e-mail address.
Actually Anon1, I have been to that site and am not a fan of the Ham on Craigs site. Not my bent.
ReplyDeleteThis septic thing sounds like a total cluster.
try ebritt123 at hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy present computer is networked to a business and I want to keep things separate, so when I have re-organized I will write. I just want to clarify some things with you personally. Though we have disagreed a time or two I have nothing but respect
ReplyDeletefor you and I think you know that. Sincerely..