PORT TOWNSEND – Jefferson County is asking that a suit alleging commissioners violated the state Opens Meeting Act be dismissed and that Mats Mats resident Mike Belenski pay the county’s legal fees.
Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney David Alvarez filed the motion less than a week after Callam County Superior Court Judge Ken Williams dismissed a bid by Belinski to start recall proceedings against Jefferson County Commissioners David Sullivan and Phil Johnson.
Alvarez claims the suit Belenski filed in August in Clallam County Superior Court alleging the commissioners repeatedly violated the state’s Open Public Meetings Act is frivolous and should be dismissed.
He is also asking that the court force Belenski to pay the county’s legal fees, which amounts to about $10,000 so far, Alvarez said.
He said he’s spent eight full business days working on the case. He estimates his hourly salary at $150.
“Mr. Belenski needs to know there are consequences for his actions,” Alvarez said.
Belenski said it seemed the action was one of intimidation.
“I think it’s pretty obvious he’s trying to punish me for exercising my rights,” said Belenski.
“That’s his opinion,” he said of Alvarez claiming the suit is frivolous.
“Obviously, I filed the lawsuit because I have a different opinion.”
Belenski, 50, a trained welding engineer who is representing himself, and Alvarez will argue the dismissal motion in Clallam County Superior Court in Port Angeles before Judge George Wood at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 26.
