Harbor-Works Audit: A “Witch Hunt???”
According to a state audit, the formation of the Port Angeles Harbor-Works Public Development Authority did not go against the Washington State Open Public Meetings Act and did not violate any Port Angeles laws.
Regardless of their findings, I think it was important for this audit to be conducted. There’s been a lot of suspicion and resentment (to put it mildly) regarding the creation of Harbor-Works.
Port Angeles residents Norma Turner and Shirley Nixon filed the request for the investigation. Norma Turner said: “Even though the state office thinks it was done right, we continue to respectfully disagree. When local elected officials meet with no public input . . . and in doing so have to amend their own rules, again with no public notice and no public comment, I think normal citizens know that violates reasonable expectation of public input.”
Harbor-Works board member Howie Ruddell accused certain un-named citizens (three guesses) of trying to “hijack this community project.” He also said: “Unfortunately these witch hunts are being paid for with tax payer dollars and they need to stop.”
So, when the state Auditor’s Office investigates a citizens’ complaint against a city government — a government which has a long history of steamrolling over the citizens it’s supposedly “serving” — it isn’t actually an audit. It’s a “hijacking.” A “witch hunt.”
OK, duly noted. Thank you Howie Ruddell for clarifying this.
Regardless of their findings, I think it was important for this audit to be conducted. There’s been a lot of suspicion and resentment (to put it mildly) regarding the creation of Harbor-Works.
Port Angeles residents Norma Turner and Shirley Nixon filed the request for the investigation. Norma Turner said: “Even though the state office thinks it was done right, we continue to respectfully disagree. When local elected officials meet with no public input . . . and in doing so have to amend their own rules, again with no public notice and no public comment, I think normal citizens know that violates reasonable expectation of public input.”
Harbor-Works board member Howie Ruddell accused certain un-named citizens (three guesses) of trying to “hijack this community project.” He also said: “Unfortunately these witch hunts are being paid for with tax payer dollars and they need to stop.”
So, when the state Auditor’s Office investigates a citizens’ complaint against a city government — a government which has a long history of steamrolling over the citizens it’s supposedly “serving” — it isn’t actually an audit. It’s a “hijacking.” A “witch hunt.”
OK, duly noted. Thank you Howie Ruddell for clarifying this.
Labels: Harbor-Works board member Howie Ruddell, Norma Turner, Open Public Meetings Act, Port Angeles Harbor-Works Public Development Authority audit, Shirley Nixon
posted by Tom Harper at 11:15 PM
12 Comments:
Howie spoke out of the wrong orifice. But, he's part of one of the families who think they OWN the town, and damn the rest of us.
The key reason why us "outsiders" are just an annoyance. (note: outsiders means...anyone who's grandparents weren't born here.)
The only solution is to move into the mountains and live your own life.
This is my understanding. Someone please correct me if I am mis-informed.
Harbor Works was formed with the idea to be able to develop the former Rayonier Mill site.
It may or may not ever be able to be developed due the the soil contamination, and if it can be developed, it would be 2014 or later.
City of PA earmarked 8.7 million dollars of taxpayer money to Harbor Works. All this money on a "maybe something can be done with it in a few years?"
Why not spend some of that earmark on a sure thing right now? Like keeping the pool going without the special taxing district?
I agree with Howie...we have a lot of leftist looneys,especially one Norma Turner, who only tries to stir up trouble because her own life is so freaking meaningless.
I have no problem with Harbor-Works, so long as they DO SOMETHING with that prime waterfront property that could be bringing in tax dollars so we wouldn't be burdening homeowners with more and more taxes to pay for the pool!!!
I don't have a problem with Harbor-Works per se, but I have a HUGE problem with certain elements trying to keep the financing a secret. This is OUR money, and we damned well have a right to see the books. Having our desire for enlightenment called a "witch hunt" throws up more red flags than Harbor-Works itself.
Note to the Ruddels, the DelGuzzis, and anyone else who needs to hear this: you don't own this town and you don't make the rules. Grow up.
Note to the Ruddels, the DelGuzzis, and anyone else who needs to hear this: you don't own this town and you don't make the rules. Grow up...
Actually, the rich do own this town, and they do make the rules. And there isn't a hell of a lot that you can do about it other than move out of it.
Eeww, there's a gross icky smell coming from that previous comment, 8 pm yesterday. Who else uses bold type instead of quotation marks? That plus the stench, could it be.....BBC??
Uh, who do you think provides JOBS for everyone? Those who have more money than you! That's why they OWN the business, and you WORK there. That's life...deal with it. Dummies....
"And there isn't a hell of a lot that you can do about it other than move out of it."
Sounds good to me. I'm going to ride out this economic slump for awhile longer here, then I'm moving. The cost of living is insane here and, unlike other places, there isn't the economy to support living like that. It's a beautiful area, yeah, but it's not sustainable to hold down wages and jack up rent.
I wonder whether Howie had a particular witch in mind that he thought the "hunters" were targeting? Hmmmmm.....
Hey "neighbor" I do not know Howie personally, but at least he and the rest of the city folks are trying to get something done about cleaning up that wasted property and not just complaining and criticizing. And if you are so "grown up" and feel so strongly, why dont you go and help? I have done business with that man's family for 22 years and never felt they were dictating any "rules" to me. I for one am thankful for having people willing to get this kind of stuff done.
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