Yesterday, the commission engaged in a belated faux public deliberation for the selection of the new commissioner. Commissioners Main and Parry gave unscripted glowing and syrupy accolades to each of the seven final applicants (activist Jody McCaffree was labeled a “housewife”) while the, as yet, unappointed Messerle was already seated in the commissioners chair. Ultimately one candidate received the most glow, Fred Messerle was labeled “progressive” and “compassionate”.
Parry moved to appoint progressive and compassionate Messerle to the commission and there was a little kerfuffle as to whether he should stay behind the bench or step down to be sworn in.
During this performance Parry brought up the need for five commissioners and an executive. This would be similar to the governance at the Port of Coos Bay or how many of the local municipalities are chartered.
It will be interesting to see how quickly a change of this magnitude might be attempted and implemented. There was no discussion yesterday about whether the commissioners would be paid in this new concept.
Over 1/3 of the Counties in Oregon are governed by “Home Rule” in this state. It basically means that the people of that County determine how they want their government to run. There are several different models. Some have elected officials that are paid, some don’t. Among those Counties are some of the best and worse run counties in the state I might add. Benton, Lane, Multnomah -good examples. Clatsop, Josephine – lousy. If you want to get information about Home Rule go to the Oregon Association of Counties OAC Net site which has lots of information about Home Rule and many other subjects pertaining to Counties. Upon consideration i think Mr. Press might have a good gut feeling about Mr. Parry’s need to be able to “legally” confer with other Commissioners at least on a one to one basis, Even so, Bob Main & Cam Parry have been seen in public and gone to many meetings together. I can’t believe they didn’t talk about County Issues and make judgements during those many opportunities. All 3 of the current Commissioners were seen on the side of the road (on Mr. Messerle’s property) the other day. It might be nice to send “Commissioner sitings” here to this blog. I have no trust in any one of these 3 individuals. Fortunately we will have a real election next year. I’m hoping the people will be looking for “new” folks to take their places.
Interestingly, Tom, local Judge Gillespie found that Lane County Commissioners, engaging in what you describe were still forming a quorum and they got smacked pretty hard. Polling one another, even if not all present, is effectively forming a quorum. Methinks this happens a great deal around Coos County
Themguys
Messerle was and is not my choice. I think he will be at best a zero and at worst a big problem for county residents and moving us forward. He is an Old Guard choice that is holding us back. My choice was not able to make it.
Actually Magix that is my point exactly. With status quo they must discuss ALL county business in public sesion. With 5 two could talk(without forming a quorum) then split up and each talk to one other commish, at that point they have four votes and a working plan for an issue. Then they take comment, call the question and vote just as they discussed in private. A 5 commissioner system is a way to subvert public meeting law, not provide a better decision making process.
“you guys really dont get do you. For a bunch of self proclaimed “critical thinkers” you are missing the boat on this.”
“It was the decent , right, and humane thing to do, even if illegal.”
Spoken like a REAL mover and shaker here in Coos County Land. What’s got YOUR feathers ruffled tom? Ya got yer man. Yer all white, all male, all conservative BOC. Why gripe?
“EVEN IF ILLEGAL”—–nuff said Mister Smarty Pants.
Thank you, Tom. Actually, the commissioners are barred from forming a quorum without adequate public notice. With three commissioners two form a quorum, with five it takes three to form a quorum.
I meant to say “any 5” with respect to the messerle “conspiracy”
you guys really dont get do you. For a bunch of self proclaimed “critical thinkers” you are missing the boat on this.
First off, with 5 commissioners and a manager all types of things can go on behind the scenes with no public oversight. Any two of the commishes could talk about anything without the public seeing. Then once they have a plan they each go to one other and create a four person voting block. The item is decided before any public comment is heard or even considered. As it is now if any two commishes talk county business it must be declared a “public meeting” and must conform to those rules. How will 5 commishes make the system public friendly? this is designed to get around public meeting law, NOT to make county government more open and accessible.
Second with respect to the Messerle thing consider this:
With 11 on the committee any 4 could meet with no public notice or oversight. If there were really something nefarious going on, as you seem to hope, all they needed to do was call a caucus with the comish and his picks, they decide on a strategy and come back and vote accordingly. Not only would it have been a rigged vote, there would have been nothing you could do about it.
Face it, the executive session was called to protect the feelings and reputations of the applicants not to hatch some grand plan to take over the County. It was the decent , right, and humane thing to do, even if illegal.
test
It certainly could morph into that. Something is definitely afoot and we will be fed little dribbles and drabs over time and never really given the whole picture.
This is not the proper way to run a democracy, in my humble opinion
“Home rule” isn’t that a keyword of the crazy right that wants to take over local government and put their own “boss” in to replace elected officials , using the guise of incompetence? A la Wisconsin and Michigan?
I could be wrong, perhaps Fred know.
The descriptions of yesterday’s proceedings sound like something out of the Three Stooges. They deliberate while the unappointed Messerle sits behind the bench. This sounds like a sitcom, really you can’t make stuff up as good as this
Having a trained, highly educated professional executive running the administrative functions of the county could be a great thing. There would still have to be competent oversight from a wise and intelligent commission or they might hire someone like Bishop at the Port and run amok like the Port and well…. you know
I think the idea of five Commissioners is a great idea, especially if they are UNPAID. Does Parry think 5 PAID Commissioners + an actual professional Administrator will COST less? You know, with all this false budget razmataz made by the Board of Commissioners (BOC) you’d think they’d cut their own budget or that of the Human Resources, formerly known as PERSONNEL Department. I think it is high time for either Home Rule or just some sort of a ballot measure that would make our Commissioners “volunteer”, such as the Cities & Ports with ONE paid individual that, most likely, would be selected for his or her professional background and experience. What a thought!! At the very least these Commissioners ought to be encouraged to but an advisory vote to the VOTERS of this County. Good idea Mr. Parry. It is time for a change and I do approved of “cutting” the budget and, by the way, consollidating Departments to “Trim” the fat cat salaries of the Managers. Coos County is famous for having small ratios of Supervisors to worker bees. Take the Surveyors department for instance, 2 management folks, 1 worker; Planning, 2 supervisors, 1 or 1/2 worker. Veterand, 1 management, 1 or 1/2 worker. It does go on from that. Many states have legislated management to worker ratios. I understand from Rep. Roblan that the state is looking real seriously at that very issue. Yes indeed. There are many things that could be changed at our beloved County Seat.