In the March 7 Peninsula Daily News article “Firm Details Timber Harvest for Clallam” on the March 6 joint Port of Port Angeles-Clallam County commissioners’ meeting, County Commissioner Mark Ozias had just returned from out of town when he learned of a 10-page letter on managing timber harvests.
Ozias had been out of town and learned about this letter at the last minute.
Not only did he not have a chance to study the letter, he also strongly objected to signing a position letter without the opportunity for public comment.
The public was also not informed of this “back-door” letter.
The port’s joint meeting agenda did not include a reference to the letter.
A copy of the letter was included with the agenda but with no explanation as to proposed action.
The county workshop and regular meeting agendas did not include an item on the joint letter.
A copy was buried starting on Page 144 of the county’s March 6 work-session agenda packet.
We the citizens depend on the agendas to keep abreast of port and county affairs.
According to Port Commissioner Colleen McAleer, the port has been discussing the issue for months at its Timber Advisory Committee meetings.
If the port is adopting a committee recommendation, it should be made public.
The same is true for the county.
I checked both port and Timber Advisory Committee agendas for 2017 and found no mention of a proposed joint letter.
No mention was made in the PDN in the March 7 article about a comment from the public that questioned the port and county processes.
Only a timber advocate’s public comment was quoted.
Janet Marx,
Port Angeles