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Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County
WEDNESDAY, November 23, 2011 n VOL. 44, NO. 47 n 75¢
Burlesque bombshells
In the San Juans
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Adults question handling of Orcas students’ suspension by MEREDITH M. GRIFFITH Staff reporter
Ji Ji Lee photo
Orcas Center, brothers Lovejoy, The Outlook Inn and The Kitchen have teamed up to bring a show to Orcas: The Galaxy Of Burlesque Revue. To read about the performance, see page 8.
New Port board members face hangar association challenges by MEREDITH M. GRIFFITH Staff reporter
The Port of Orcas has officially introduced its three new commissioners who will take office in January: Dwight Guss will replace Dave Noneman; Sheldon Gregory will replace Alan Edwards; and Brian Ehrmantraut will replace chairman Bret Thurman. They will join current commissioners Audrey Wells and William Hopkins on the board.
Hangar association During the Nov. 17 meeting, attorney Mimi Wagner, from the law offices of William Weissinger, addressed the board on behalf of hangar owners Chuck and Carolyn Crawford, who lease land from the port on which their three hangars are built. “We are very concerned about the Crawfords’ predicament as lessees,” Wagner told the commissioners. “We have grave concerns about the
proposed new leasing agreement.” Port lessees have recently formed Orcas Hangar Association because the commission wanted to simplify the port’s leasing arrangements. Wagner proposed that the port consider “an alternate framework for new leases,” as the recently created structure did not fit any legal format known to her law firm. In response, Thurman moved to forestall taking any action on lease agreements until a later date, saying, “Let’s step back, slow down and get a better game plan.”
Port 2012 general fund The board also approved its 2012 budget. Expected general fund revenue and expenditures equal $258,850. Budgeted expenditures are up $14,208, roughly six percent from $244,642 in 2011. Projected revenue is down $33,960, 13 percent from $292,810 in 2011. The port budgeted $7,500 to pay its five com-
A handful of adults approached the school board about the district’s handling of a recent adulthosted high school drinking party, for which 10 student athletes were suspended from their teams. During the Nov. 15 meeting, Suzanne Morrisey read a statement in which she called the event a “coed drinking sleepover for minors” and said the school “used poor judgment,” disciplining “based on hearsay” and “a draconian system.” She called the school’s disciplinary process “a witch hunt,” saying it was “abusive” and “psychologically scarring to the children in your charge.” Morrisey said she was upset by a letter she had received from a teacher, and board chair Janet Brownell called executive session to discuss it as a personnel matter. After the board emerged, Kathy Jensen said she would like to see the current policy “re-written to allow for more judicious” handling. She questioned giving one missioners, who have chosen compensation of $90 per meeting instead of the state-mandated rate of $104, port manager Bea vonTobel told the Sounder. As operations coordinator, vonTobel earns $52,000 plus $5,400 in medical coverage. Parttime facilities manager James Reid is paid $8,000. Retirement for employees and commissioners is $3,000. The board set aside $60,000 for legal fees. To date in 2011 the port has spent $15,873 of its budgeted $30,000. Fire and liability insurance is budgeted at $16,000. In 2011, the port paid only $10,161 out of a budgeted $17,000. vonTobel said the rate was lower because of the port’s good history. Other budgeted items include $26,500 for grounds/maintenance work; $5,000 for road maintenance; $6,000 for a janitor; $13,800 for taxes and auditor fees, $3,000 for continuing education; $5,000 for runway repair and field electrical; and $14,650 for electricity, water/ sewer, refuse and sani-cans. vonTobel had also budgeted $17,000 to pay solid waste parcel fees, but removed it after fee failed to pass.
SEE PORT, PAGE 6
person – the superintendent – the power to handle such infractions, recommending instead a panel including students, teachers and community members. Candace Bodenhamer called Jensen’s idea “brilliant,” saying a committee should be part of the disciplinary process. “These actions should be judged by their peers,” she said. Last month Kline determined that 10 students had violated the terms of the 2011-12 “Athletic Handbook,” and as a result removed them from their football, soccer and volleyball teams for the rest of the fall season. They are the only students to face such disciplinary action this year. By school policy, a meeting with the student, parents, principal, athletic director and coach must be held within three school days of an incident or report of an incident. The school committee must then meet within one day to determine consequences. In an earlier story, superintendent Barbara Kline told the Sounder, “this went a little differently because some of the students
SEE SCHOOL, PAGE 6
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