Questions makeup of commission
The Columbia Falls City Council recently approved three members to a commission designed to examine whether the city should change its form of government or keep it the way it is.
The story in the Hungry Horse News reads: “Former city managers Susan Nicosia and Roger Hopkins were named to the commission as was former city clerk Connie Konopatzke. Nicosia retired in June, Hopkins and Konopatzke have been out of city government for years.
“The city currently has a city manager form of government, where the city council and mayor oversee a paid city manager.
“But voters in the 2023 election approved a review of the city’s government by a narrow margin. The state constitution requires the question of whether city and county governments should be reviewed every 10 years. It’s one of the most unique laws in the nation, according to legal scholars.
“The commission will go through some training in December and then likely begin in the task in 2025.
“Ten years ago, the city went through a similar review and the commission found that the city manager form of government was the best way to go.
“The city budgeted $20,000 for the review effort, but Hopkins has already suggested to city council in previous meetings that they wouldn’t spend close to that.
“Columbia Falls is not alone. Twelve counties, 22 cities and 20 municipalities are undergoing reviews across the state.”
One would think that committee members would be unbiased, non-partial and no ties to any form of city government. This would include no past employees that would have any interest or personal gain. This also would include employment, or pensions or lawsuits, etc. Yet this City Council has chosen to disregard past history and forge ahead and choose committee members with former ties to the current form of government. This is a slap in the face to the citizens in Columbia Falls and to unbiased fairness and decision making.
It is not that the people chosen are not fair in their decision, it is their ties to the current government. Opinion here, what is yours?
Lyle Christman
South Cle Elum, WA
Note: Christman was the first Columbia Falls mayor under the current form of city manager government.