PORT ANGELES — The public will get a forum — but it won’t be a free-for-all, the Port Angeles City Council decided Tuesday.
On Friday, Ray Gruver, an insurance broker and a past president of the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, delivered to City Hall a letter signed by 60 community and business leaders asking for the forum.
Council members “will be asked to respond openly and honestly” to City Manager Mark Madsen’s allegations of “hostile working conditions” and a rift with the council that he said forced him to resign July 9.
Madsen’s resignation is effective Sept. 1. He will receive severance of at least $37,000.
Mayor Gary Braun asked the council at a special meeting on Tuesday to consider the idea of a public forum to air the issues, and the council members agreed that such a forum should take place at a future date — and in a structured manner.
“My instinct tells me to be very careful,” Deputy Mayor Betsy Wharton said.
“There are a lot of emotions, and we’ve been through a lot.
“I’m hesitant to do something that could be like adding gasoline to a fire.”
Ultimately Councilman Don Perry suggested he and Gruver discuss a format with a group such as the League of Women Voters that has experience facilitating forums.
The letter was written in response to a July 22 meeting in which the council made an apologetic “mea culpa” statement on the complaints raised by Madsen in two sharply worded July 1 memos.
Later in the week, sSeveral council members disputed Madsen’s statements in interviews with the Peninsula Daily News, suggesting that his statements had been exaggerated.
On the public forum, Perry said:
“This could be something where the community can submit their questions, [city attorney Bill] Bloor can take a look at them and make sure it isn’t an issue that was discussed in executive session or something we can’t talk about, and we can have a chance to formulate an answer.
“This will have to be something that is very well orchestrated.”
Gruver — who emphasized at the meeting that he was not a spokesperson for those who signed the letter — said he was satisfied with the solution.
“I think the only way to get beyond all of this is the community needs to feel like the council has answered a number of their questions,” Gruver said.
“I think Betsy made a great point, and that this could easy be an emotionally charged meeting.
“Meetings aren’t productive when they are sensationalized.
“Me as Ray Gruver, I am not looking for sensationalism.
“I want the opportunity to ask questions, and for them to explain what is going on.”
