FORKS — It’s over.
The group that wanted to recall Forks Mayor Nedra Reed hasn’t filed an appeal within the deadline after a court decision rejecting its petition.
And the Forks City Council has opted not to pursue recovery of will not pursue attorneys fees from them.
The only question left is how much the episode cost the city of Forks.
The Forks City Council agreed that the city would pay Reed’s costs, but by Tuesday, Reed’s attorney, Craig Ritchie of Sequim, had not calculated his fees.
The petition filed by the group calling for a vote to oust Reed, which was informally led by former Forks Police Sgt. Tom Scott — was rejected by Clallam County Superior Court Judge Ken Williams on April 15.
The group has the opportunity to appeal to the Washington State Supreme Court, but the 15 day time limit has come and gone.
Scott said the group determined there was no sense in continuing with the case.
“Washington state has very high standards for recalls,” he said.
“There wasn’t any point in trying to go any further with this.”
Now that the issue is laid to rest it is time for the community to heal, Reed said.
“Our main concern all along has been the community,” Reed said.
“This community has been through enough.
“The attorney did say we had enough to pursue attorney’s fee, but the council decided to take the high road.
“It is time now for us all to work together and to heal.”
The petition contained seven charges against Reed that centered around the Forks Police Department, most relating to Chief of Police Mike Powell.
Williams dismissed all of them as “legally and factually insufficient.”
Scott was one of three Forks Police Department employees who were terminated Feb. 29.
Deanna DeMatteis, who also signed the petition, and JoElle Munger, who did not, were the other two.
Karleen Powell — ex-wife of Police Chief Mike Powell — initiated the petition after the February firings, saying the three were fired in retribution for making complaints against the police chief.
Powell was not one of the petitioners listed on the recall.
The city conducted two internal investigations of complaints about the chief’s hiring and discipline practices and of sexual harassment in April and June 2007.
The investigations resulted in mandatory training in “respect and professionalism” in the workplace for all city staff and counseling of the chief.
