REVIEW BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
BHS THEATER: Neil Simon’s ‘Rumors’ runs this weekend and next at the high school. PAGE A14
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2011 | Vol. 111, No. 43 | WWW.BAINBRIDGEREVIEW.COM | 75¢
Exchanges grow on island Swaps, trades, and time bank gain traction on Bainbridge.
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
SEE EXCHANGE, A13
Council partially passes ordinance leaving more work to be done. By RICHARD D. OXLEY
By CONNIE MEARS
Ballerina…clown… fire chief. With just a few days left before Halloween, Bainbridge island resident Lynn Ferguson sifted through a collection of costumes at KiDiMu. “I want to be a kitty,” her granddaughter Alexandria said. Sure enough, Lynn pulled out a pink tiger costume that fit the bill. Sierra Berry, 5, already knew what she is going to be for Halloween — a Dalmatian. Imagine her surprise when she found some great spotted canine ears and a collar. The costume cache is part of KiDiMu’s first Halloween costume swap, a hub for exchanging outgrown get ups. Seriously. How many times can you be a pirate? Rather than plunging all that (often plastic) plunder into the landfill year after year, why not circulate them among families?
Debate continues over CSC’s restructuring
Willie Wenzlau/For the Review
Jake DeLuca, 10 months, and Sierra Berry, 5, try on costumes available at KiDiMu’s GreenHalloween Costume Exchange.
The City Council partially passed an ordinance modifying the structure of the city’s Civil Service Commission, leaving its more controversial aspects for further debate. During its Wednesday’s meeting, the council discussed an ordinance that dissolves the current CSC and implements a number of modifications to the commission’s structure. The ordinance attempts to improve upon the former commission in order to avoid previous issues experienced over the past few months pertaining to the state’s Open Public Meetings Act — issues that resulted in the resignation of all three commission members. The first two of the three sections included in the ordinance did not raise much concern and passed easily. The first modified the commission by raising the number of commissioners from three to five members, staggering their terms and eliminating the threeyear time constraint on the requirement for residency. The second upheld that any rules and regulations
originating from the currently vacant commission are considered in effect until the next commission is in place to deal with them. The third section, which involves the state requirement that the CSC remain independent from the city, was tabled until the council discusses the issue during a work study session.
The urgent need for a commission The commission oversees a number of aspects relating to public safety employees of the city, including personnel issues, examinations for entry-level police candidates, promotions and employee discipline. “The time that it takes you all to select people for committees and commissions is lengthy,” said City Manger Brenda Bauer to the council. “For every day that goes by that we are not able to put out an advertisement, I think the city is at risk…I think it is imperative that we move quickly.” Immediately upon its discussion, council member Bob Scales suggested that the council vote on the SEE CSC ORDINANCE, A3
New city attorney has utility experience By RICHARD D. OXLEY Staff Writer
The city greeted its new attorney earlier this week, William H. Patton, who replaces Jack Johnson. Officially stepping in on Wednesday as interim city attorney, Patton had been working with Johnson over the previous two weeks in order to facilitate a smooth transition. For the time
being he is still busy with moving into the position, but already has his ficus (plant) firmly established in his new office at City Hall. He will be considered interim for the next six months, after which, the city and Patton will decide the “next step” to take, according to City Manager Brenda Bauer. Patton’s experience is heavily weighted in legal
“He was not selected for his particular expertise in utilities, although that will certainly be useful as we look at issues like potentially divesting utilities, changing municipal codes, and best practices improvements for utilities.” Brenda Bauer, City of Bainbridge Island Manager
matters involving utilities and their relationships to municipalities.
“I get to deal with all (the city’s) legal issues,” Patton said. “Not just the ones that
involve utilities. I’ve done more general municipality work as well.” Patton recently left Foster Pepper PLLC, the law firm that has represented the City of Bainbridge Island in the past regarding its water utility issues, including the Bainbridge Ratepayers Alliance lawsuit against the city. He did not take part in arguing the case, he said, rather only provided
briefings and background research. “I bring a special expertise in utility law,” Patton said. “In what taxpayers need to pay for and what ratepayers need to pay for.” Prior to his position at Foster Pepper, he spent 17 years as director of the utilities section for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office. He SEE PATTON, A30