PORT TOWNSEND – A man who was speaking outside of the time limit of the county commissioners’ public comment period was ejected from chambers Monday morning after two warnings from Commissioner David Sullivan.
Mats Mats Bay resident Mike Belenski continued speaking after the comment period was over, so Sullivan instructed clerk Lorna Delaney to call a sheriff’s deputy and escort him out of the building.
It was the first official escort for Belenski out of the courthouse, although a deputy was summoned to a commissioners’ meeting in 2007 when Belenski kept interrupting discussion.
At that meeting, Belenski and Commissioner Phil Johnson talked in the hallway outside the commissioners’ chambers, ending the confrontation.
Belenski filed suit last year against the commissioners, claiming they were infringing on his right to free speech but lost the suit in a Clallam County court decision in July.
He has not appealed the ruling, and the appeal period has now expired, according to Sullivan.
On Monday, Belenski criticized the commissioners for unnecessary spending and the awarding of contracts without discussion.
He criticized County Administrator Philip Morley directly, who said he would “respond to this after the comment section is over.”
“Of course you will, with a bunch of misdirection and lies,” Belenski snapped.
As Morley began this response, Belenski continued to talk.
“Mike, please keep quiet — you are out of order,” Sullivan said.
“No, I’m not,” Belenski replied.
“You let [frequent commenter] George Yount talk last week, and he was out of order then.”
“Mike, you’re out of order now, and if you aren’t quiet, I’m going to get the deputies to ask you to leave,” Sullivan said.
Belenski said he wasn’t leaving, and Sullivan then instructed Delaney to summon Civil Deputy Brian Tracer, who escorted Belenski out of the building without incident.
Belenski was silent from the time Tracer was called and when he arrived.
During the public comment period at commissioners’ meetings, those participating are asked to approach the microphone and give their name and address.
Belenski did neither, and Sullivan allowed him to continue even though Belenski was violating protocol.
Sullivan said later he applied that rule on an irregular basis.
Identification is required for the sake of the community, and Belenski is well-known, he said.
Belenski was the last of several commenters to speak out against the county’s proposed 0.3 percent sales tax increase, which appears on the Nov. 2 ballot as Proposition 1.
Yount, of Port Townsend, with whom Belenski often argues, was the only one to speak out in favor of Proposition 1 on Monday morning.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
