CIty manager search not over yet

POLSON — Polson City Manager candidate Teresa Wall-McDonald declined the offer to become Polson’s city manager in a letter to council members, which was read at Monday night’s council meeting.

Before the council’s approval of Monday night’s agenda, a correction to proposed item number six — the ratification of a city manager contract with Wall-McDonald — was made to exclude it from the agenda, and little mention was made of the matter thereafter.

Interim City Manager, James Raymond, said the second city manager candidate, Joe Kerby, has been contacted about the position and negotiations are being made.

Resolution 974 was amended to include a member of the city clerical staff on the city manager search committee, reflect a starting pay scheme and make city manager salary subject to the council’s approval prior to advertisement.

Council member Elsa Duford asserted that she was never in favor of the charter to form a new type of city government, thus giving the city manager “unfettered executive and administrative power.”

“I don’t think the public knew anything that was involved when they voted for this,” she said.

Members of the Streetscape Committee, a citizens’ organization, asked the council to approve Special Improvement District No. 42, that would require an assessment of lots fronting Main Street, which would help to pay for the proposed new pavement of the road and installation of sidewalks. During the proposed renovations, water lines will also be replaced.

“This is fly or die night,” said Polson resident and business owner Johna Morrison. “Either make the project fly or make it die.”

A little over 57 percent of lot owners along the proposed renovation site are in favor of the SID and subsequent renovations, said Streetscape representative Shawn Rowland. He added that 42 percent of lot owners are opposed to the SID.

After several public comments - and Mayor Lou Marchello excluding himself from voting due to a conflict of interests, and Duford’s opposition - resolution No. 975 carried.

Ordinance 640, an increase of user fees for public documents, was met with public outcries of disdain for certain council members.

Duford was not impressed with the ordinance, to be further discussed at a public hearing Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m.

“It seems like the merchandising of public records,” she said. “I’m kind of concerned.” She went on to say that such an increase in rates would make the attainment of information more difficult for lower-income citizens.

Council member Jules Clavadetscher said he saw value in public document fees, because he said the time spent on an individual citizen’s assistance at City Hall is money taken away from taxpayers — as the clerical assistant would otherwise be working on pressing city matters of more consequence to taxpayers.

Clavadetscher said he wanted lengthy customer assistance to be charged, but expressed no desire to see short and simple requests met with outlandish fees.

Resident Rory Horning disagreed with the ordinance and questioned why the council never used the Paper View system he said they purchased some years ago — which would have put all public records on the internet he said.

“If you don’ have an alternative,” Horning said, “all your doing is putting an undue burden on the taxpayers.”

Resident Murat Kalinyaprak asked whether or not there would be an additional charge to the request forms he’s been filling out — which he said he can’t get answered.

Resident, Earl Hanneman, asked the council to approve the closure of stipulated streets - from Linderman Elementary to Main Street - for the Christmas Parade of Lights, at 5:30-7 p.m. on Dec. 6, the motion carried.

Duford opposed the approval of up to $9,744 in a water/sewer fee structure consultant, who would produce documentation showing accurate water rates — a rate structure that has never been done in Polson. Clavadetscher also had questions about a possible lower rate.

“I’d hate to spend $9,000, to find out you lower rates by 10 percent,” he said.

A quorum was met, and the motion approved.

Horning publicly commended Duford for “always being there and thinking about the taxpayer,” despite the condescending remarks he said council members meet her suggestions and questions with.

Interim City Manager, James Raymond, asked the council members if they’d like a three-minute clock before leaving the meeting prematurely. Duford declined his offer.