Housing authority
action delayed, Board supports
gillnetters
The board of
commissioners postponed action on a proposal for the board to appoint itself the
governing body of the Clatsop County Housing Authority (CCHA) in place of the
agency’s current governing board. The commissioners will take up the issue at
their Dec. 12 meeting.
Chair Peter Huhtala
explained that the issue arose over concerns about past actions involving the
housing authority, including the resignation of a property management company
contracted by CCHA over the eviction of a tenant from a CCHA rental property in
2009, as well as questions whether the selection of a contractor by the CCHA
board to perform work at a property in September complied with the agency’s
procurement policies.
The management
company, Income Property Management, informed the authority in August 2009 that
it was ending its contract to manage various CCHA properties over the agency’s
refusal to allow the company to evict a tenant.
CCHA board member
David Smith read a prepared statement asking the board of commissioners to delay
action until the housing authority board could respond to the issues. He said
the housing authority had concerns about Income Property Management’s
performance before it terminated its contract in 2009. He also stated that the
work contract – involving a job awarded to a distant relative of CCHA Executive
Director Kathy Lucas – was handled in compliance with state law, and that Lucas
recused herself from the contractor selection process.
The housing authority
owns several affordable housing facilities in Astoria, Warrenton and Seaside and
administers housing assistance to low-income residents.
Board supports
gillnetters
The board approved
sending a letter to the Oregon and Washington fish and wildlife commissions
urging both panels not to adopt a set of rules implementing Oregon Gov. John
Kitzhaber’s proposal to phase out commercial salmon gillnetting on the mainstem
of the Columbia River.
The commissions are
scheduled to meet, respectively, in Salem on Dec. 6-7 and Olympia, Wash. on Dec.
14-15 to consider the rules, which would phase out the use of gillnets in the
main river by 2016 and restrict gillnetting to off-channel sites.
The letter states
that economic data used to support the plan is flawed, that social impacts of
the plan are not considered, and that too much uncertainty surrounds proposals
to expand off-channel fishing opportunities, and as a result the rules would
drive many gillnetters out of business.
Twenty-four audience
members gave testimony in opposition to the proposed rules. Chair Peter Huhtala
said the board of commissioners would have a presence at the Salem
meeting.
Mental health issues
discussed
The board held a work
session discussion with county staff on the status of mental health and other
social services locally and ways to improve them.
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