First, there was the marathon Clark County commissioners meeting on May 7, where a lengthy public hearing and outrage over the hiring of state Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, pushed the meeting past midnight.

A week later, it was a two-fer Tuesday. A packed house again greeted the commissioners in the morning, before the C-Tran Board of Directors met a crowd of its own at the Vancouver Community Library.

Dozens of citizens delivered hours of testimony at each meeting. But the two venues had a slightly different feel.

The county meetings were a bit more, shall we say, lively. Applause and booing started even before the first actual comment. County Commissioner David Madore, himself the object of many people’s anger, encouraged the outward expressiveness, though Commissioner Steve Stuart did use his chair’s gavel to rein in the unruly audience at times.

The C-Tran board meeting took a decidedly different tone. That’s because board Chair Bill Ganley, a Battle Ground City Council member, was having none of it. He laid down the ground rules from the start: No clapping. No booing. Any attempt at applause was quickly silenced.

Ganley is, after all, a high school teacher. Perhaps running a crowded board meeting isn’t all that different from managing a classroom full of teenagers. Does the library have a time-out room?

People at the C-Tran meeting mostly respected those rules during about two and a half hours of public comment. One of the only outbursts came in the form of laughter for Vancouver resident Judy Tiffany, who delivered this one-liner in describing why criminals don’t ride light rail:

“They like to get away fast,” she said.

That’s Mayor Scott Higgins stone-cold kickin’ it by the city’s new decal-bedecked ride. That’s a Ford Escape, by the way, which one car reviewer called “easy for my kids … to get in and out of” with doors of “a manageable weight.”

Perfect for the city.

As Higgins writes on his city blog, “There will be no mistaking this vehicle as it drives up to help with the enforcement of city codes.” It’s unclear whether this was an issue before — people mistaking the code enforcer for, say, some creep with an interest in fences — but that giant decal on the side of the vehicle is a dead giveaway that someone from the city is rolling by.

But is the decal too big, too ostentatious for the city? Not for the city’s branding purposes, Higgins said by phone. That thing is like a big, roving billboard for the city.

“It’s very noticeable,” Higgins said. “But it’s probably what you want in a code enforcement vehicle.”

Overall, this badboy set the city back $24,404. Perhaps it’s more than some folks would spend on a car (I’m still rocking a tape deck in a ’93 Camry). But the city’s old vehicle had fallen into disrepair, officials said. Typically, vehicles are retired from the fleet when reach a certain number of miles traveled — around 100,000. The city’s Ford Escape replaces the city’s previous code enforcement vehicle, a 2002 two-wheel drive GMC pickup truck.

And, like any responsible car-buyer, the city budgeted for its new set of wheels, Higgins said.

So I suppose it’s news to say that the three commissioners finally talked calmly on the issue.

Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart said two weeks ago that he would be asking the board to reconsider the hiring as it broke the rules they agreed to at the start of the year. It appears that won’t happen, though, as Stuart is now asking a new question.

“How do we actually determine what success looks like,” Stuart asked Clark County Commissioners David Madore and Tom Mielke.

What Stuart is poking at is an updated job description.

Madore has contested he already gave County Administrator Bill Barron an updated job description. That’s true. But Madore also lamented on his Facebook account recently that Barron never updated the job description on the county’s website, contending that was a major reason for the public concern.

The job description is still not updated online. And that is because Barron can’t do that with just Madore’s direction. The update needs board approval, which hasn’t happened.

Really, at this point, all of that is procedural. Benton has the job. And it’s not like Madore or Mielke are going to vote against it or anything. But Stuart does say he wants it to eventually happen for posterity. And he’s asking for it to come before the board for a discussion.

The only time things got a bit feisty in the talk is when Madore asked Stuart to submit his own input on the position that had already been hired against Stuart’s vocal May Day disapproval.

“I invite you, if you have different ideas or you have your own input to go ahead and submit that as well,” Madore said.

“We already hired someone, so I want to know how we judge this person that you guys hired,” Stuart said. “Me creating something doesn’t get me to; we have a person in there. Now how do we actually judge performance? How do we actually, what are the standards that that person is fulfilling, so that I can know, ‘this is what success looks like’.”

A little testy, sure. But hey, at least no one is raising their voice. That’s progress.

Stuart also said they should hash out expectations for Benton considering he is a sitting state senator.

In response, Mielke said: “Number one, we come first.”

I wrote about the proposal in February when a delegation from Dubrovnik, including the mayor, visited Vancouver. The council discussed the proposal during a workshop on May 6, but instead of swooning over the idea of having a European sister, councilors expressed several concerns.

First, some background: State law prohibits public funds from being spent on hosting Sister City relationships or buying gifts for Sister City officials, so a city that wants to participate in a cultural and educational bond with a far-away place must rely on a community partner to sponsor the relationship. Vancouver has been a Sister City with Joyo, Japan, since 1995, a relationship sponsored by Rotary Club of Vancouver that has economic ties: Japanese companies such as SEH America, Kyocera and Sharp Corp. have plants in Clark County.

The city started a relationship with Arequipa, Peru, in 1961, but that lapsed in 1993. Relationships have been proposed with Chkalovska, Russia, and Victoria, British Columbia, but never materialized.

The relationship with Dubrovnik would be sponsored by Bravo! Vancouver.  Michael Kissinger of Bravo! serves as guest conductor for the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra and has been promoting travel to Dubrovnik at his annual Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival in Esther Short Park. Last year, Bravo! hosted the first  International Wine & Jazz Festival in Dubrovnik.

Kissinger wants the city council to adopt a resolution formalizing the relationship with Dubrovnik. The proposal is on Monday’s agenda.

During the May 6 workshop, Councilor Jeanne Stewart said she worries that using any city staff time to coordinate local Sister City-related events would be considered an illegal gift of public funds, as staff time has value. City Manager Eric Holmes said City Attorney Ted Gathe  has said that staff time isn’t an illegal gift of public funds. Councilor Larry Smith said most Sister City relationships that fail do so because there’s no financial support, and Kissinger assured him that Bravo! includes “very sweet people.” Stewart proposed having another workshop on Sister City policies, but Mayor Tim Leavitt pointed out that Dubrovnik is the only current proposal – it’s not as if a lot of cities are clamoring to be Vancouver’s sister.

Kissinger said city approval will mean a lot to the Dubrovnik officials, and they are ready to made the relationship official. He sounded frustrated that the council wasn’t getting behind his “visionary” thinking about how this will promote Vancouver in Dubrovnik, one of the busiest ports for cruise ships in the world.

Will the council get on board on Monday? Stay tuned.

So prepare, one and all, for a really basic (like, incredibly basic) history lesson on the Athenian democracy’s short lived practice of ostracism.

Ostracism was basically introduced as a way to get rid of a problem. Much like today’s recall efforts, folks could yank someone from office if they got enough support.

But very unlike today’s recall, ostracism did away with things like due process and introduced a ten year exile into the equation.

Yes, that’s right, if you did a bad enough job in public office during the early days of democracy then you were sent out of town for a decade.

Essentially the public (or whoever was allowed to vote in an early-era democracy) was asked each year, without debate, if they wanted to hold a vote of ostracism. If the vote came back in the affirmative then you had another vote where everyone put a name on a clay tablet (or whatever was available to write on in an early-era civilization) and they counted them all up. I’m pretty sure there was a threshold that had to be met, but, I said this was going to be really basic (see, I told you incredibly basic) so I’m not totally sure.

If you lost then you had ten days to leave the city. If you came back to the city, they killed you.

At least the rules were simple, right?

The Encyclopedia Britannica warns us of making the error of calling this a true exile, because if you’re ostracized you get to keep your land. So that’s something. But can you imagine the yard work you’d return to? And the rats figured out no one was around, so the basement is a horror show now. And you just know there are going to be bees living in the attic. Ugh. What’s the point, really?

And ten years in the hinterlands back then was rough. It’s not like you could go to Persia during that time and hope for a new start. You probably came back a completely different person. Unless you’re wiling to take Wikipedia’s word for it, then some people didn’t come back a different person at all, and that helped them to be ostracized twice.

The common belief is that eventually people came to the agreement that this wasn’t a great way to deal with things, and at some point in time it was done away with.

Clark County’s ostracized would receive a commemorative pin, likely adorned with the date they may return to the county.

But could you just imagine if it hadn’t been?

Think of the campaigning that would go on as politicians had to play against the field. You think campaigns get mean and dirty now? It wouldn’t even look like people were trying in the general election compared to an ostracism vote.

In Clark County I like to imagine the losing candidate is put in a canoe, similar to the one that adorns the county’s logo. Then they’re shoved off into the Columbia River by their weeping admirers. Their speech, where they vow to return one day to make another run at it, is muffled as they disappear into the distance. The cheers of the masses would the echo about the land.

Then the ostracized must learn to make their way for the next decade amongst the hipsters of North Portland.

I imagine that experience would turn more than a few of our elected officials into different people by the time they returned.

He wanted to know if there are any ghost reports in the Columbian archives for the Phoenix Inn.

Now if Van Nortwick were doing this for his own interests, that would be both totally incredible and totally likely to produce a Photoshop image of him in a Ghostbusters suit. But he’s actually trying to help out a curious member of the public who sent in the query.

That right there is some fine public service, so I’ll leave Photoshop closed for now. And ya’ know what? I’m going to say it. You’re alright Van Nortwick.

I couldn’t find anything in the archives, but maybe some of our locally versed readers can shed some light on this one.

Here is the text of the email (names have been withheld to protect the public from hauntings):

“Hi, I am writing to ask if you can help me find information on the history of the Phoenix Inn, 12712 SE 2nd Cir, Vancouver 98684.  When was it built, and what was there before the hotel was built?  I am asking because my roommate has worked there for two years and she has told me about televisions turning on by themselves, objects moving on their own and things like that.  She says she has even seen a ghost there once. Since she has worked there, similar things have happened at my home too, which never happened before and we have lived here for eight years. I can’t seem to find any history about the Phoenix Inn on the internet.  Any advice would be very helpful.”

I think Van Nortwick sums this whole thing up rather aptly, saying, “we have to deal with serious issues in my office.”

There was Chuck Miller, whose wife was hired by Commissioner David Madore to be Madore’s personal assistant at the county. Then there were Carolyn Crain and Debbie Peterson, both of whom received money from Madore, Commissioner Tom Mielke and Benton for their failed legislative campaigns last year. Then there were Christian Berrigan and Dick Sohn, who are operations executive and assistant office manager/photographer, respectively, for the Clark County Republican Party.

But wait. Who were these 45 or so people testifying against the decision to hire Benton? Who could possibly be there to criticize Mielke and Madore?

Sohn had a theory he shared, much to the delight of the audience.

Sohn noted that Commissioner Steve Stuart told speakers at the start of the meeting they only had to give their name, not their address. Now, that’s something Stuart has been saying since he became chairman, but don’t let a thing like facts get in the way of a conspiracy theory.

Sohn said at first he thought it was a time-saving move.

“Then I found out there were a lot of Portland shills in the audience, and I figured, ‘Wow, that’s why Steve didn’t want anybody to know where they are from,’” Sohn said.

After the meeting, I received the sign-up sheets for both the fee waiver public hearing and for general (Benton) comment. The sign-up sheets for the waiver had a space for addresses, the other sheets did not. Many people signed both sheets, and I found all the names in the Clark County voter database. The last version of the database available to me was from February 2012.

The results of my fact-checking? It wasn’t “Portland shills” who were testifying against the decision to hire Benton, but Clark County voters.

Here’s Sohn at Tuesday’s meeting:

But back when Madore was a regular citizen who routinely attended Vancouver City Council meetings, he had a different idea about when the public should be able to speak.

In 2011, the city council decided to limit public comment on non-agenda items to twice a month, at the end of meetings. (People wishing to speak about topics on the agenda, however, could still speak at the beginning.) The change came about because the same people were showing up at every meeting to protest the Columbia River Crossing.

In September 2010, Madore told The Columbian that he objected to Mayor Tim Leavitt’s plans to move comment on non-agenda items to the end of meetings.

“Who are they to define what the citizens think is relevant to current city business?” he asked. “You could make it really simple: You could speak as long as you like as long as we agree with you. … Whatever it takes to silence the dissent.”

At the council’s Sept. 20, 2010 meeting — which was after the Jeanne Harris ‘gavel down’ incident — Madore chastised the council for not reconsidering its position on the Columbia River Crossing and for not appearing to listen to the public.

Flash forward to Wednesday, when Madore said he never reconsiders a decision unless he receives new information. He said he hadn’t heard anything new about the decision by him and Commissioner Tom Mielke to appoint state Sen. Don Benton as the director of the county’s environmental services department.

On Tuesday, he heard during public testimony that, among other things, Benton was ousted as leader of the state GOP for suspected misuse of public funds, has consistently voted against laws to protect the environment, has one of the worst attendance records in the legislature, is a bully and that commissioners violated their own policy by appointing Benton instead of letting Administrator Bill Barron make the appointment. Several people said that rather than an appointment, Benton should have had to go through a regular hiring process. The job should have been publicly posted, they said, and if Benton really was the most qualified, he would have earned the job.

During the 2010 meeting, Madore told the council that  free speech includes the ability to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

“The fact that you’ve already made the decision doesn’t take it out of the realm for us to address,” Madore said.

The public may not have known about the decision until it was made, he said. (And this was about the city’s endorsement of the Locally Preferred Alternative, a decision made in 2008 after a multiyear public process. In the case of the Benton decision, not even Commissioner Steve Stuart knew about it until Mielke and Madore made the decision May 1.)

“It might be too late in your eyes, but we’re just waking up to it,” Madore told the council in 2010.

Here’s video of Madore in 2010

And here he is on Wednesday

Imagine you work for the commissioners, and it’s your job to type up these messages and send them to your bosses.

Then read No. 21.

1)      Karen stated her concerns with hiring Benton for such an important job.  Madore and Mielke should be ashamed of themselves.   She thinks they should go through the normal hiring procedure. Just bad cronyism

 2)      Gail Canteen wanted to pass along here concerns with  the hiring of Benton.  She stated this is a HUGE mistake.

 3)      Scott called to protest on the highest level that it is wrong for them to surpass the hiring procedure.  He stated he was embarrassed that he voted for Madore and Mielke.

 4)      Anonymous caller stated she doesn’t think it is fair to skip the HR process.  She feels that Madore and Mielke are overstepping their power and just picking their friends for the job.  She thinks they need to recall Madore.

 5)      Deborah Larner called in support of hiring Benton.

 6)      Suzzette Kehae is upset for the hiring of Benton.  She stated they need to follow the rules, it is the taxpayer’s dollars that pay for this job and they should have some say in who is getting picked.  She stated her concerns with Benton doing a horrible job as a Senator and has problems showing up.

 7)      Margaret Wesely stated her concerns with giving away a job to Benton.

 8)      Bob Zak – (WOULD LIKE A EMAIL / PHONE CALL BACK – He stated he likes Benton, Madore, and Mielke, but feels they did the wrong thing by not going through a competitive process

 9)      Dena Roberts is outraged with the hiring of Benton.  She wants Madore and Mielke to rescind their offer.  She is embarrassed for the County and thinks they are out of their mind.  She thinks there are serious violations that have been crossed in this situation. 

 10)   Joel Littauer stated he was outraged with the process of hiring Don Benton.  He wanted to know if they were trying to destroy the county?  He stated he is also planning on writing a letter to the Columbian.

 11)   Anonymous caller called to say great job to Commissioner Steve Stuart and thinks the ultimate goal is that they are prepping Benton for County Administrator and believe this is cronyism .  He stated he hopes Madore and Mielke don’t run for re-election.

 12)   Anonymous caller called to say he believes Madore and Mielke should be recalled and will vote for them to be recalled if it comes up.

 13)   Richard Lidner  – WOULD LIKE PHONE CALL BACK FROM EITHER MADORE / MIELKE — He stated Commissioner Steve Stuart doing a great job and feels for him having to deal with the  2 idiot .  He stated Madore and Mielke need to resign.  They have breached the public trust and want to hire someone that has no qualifications to meet the demands of the job.

 14)   Kay Campbell — They need to rescind the job as he is not qualified.

 15)   Anonymous caller called to voice her opinion that the hiring of Benton is horrible.  She is stated they are not following the real procedures.  Benton is a Big Mouth, Tub of Lard who has failed as a senator and is not qualified for the job.  She knows some of his neighbors and they don’t get along with him because he doesn’t work well with other and is smack in your face.  There is so much cronyism going.  She stated she is speaking for 5 people in her neighborhood who are afraid to call.

 16)   Alysa Sacarro — Disappointed in decision to hire Don Benton.  Commissioners should follow hiring procedures.

 17)   Raylnn Campbell is not happy with the Benton situation.  She thinks Madore and Mielke needs to be investigated. 

 18)   Teresa Cunnington, registered voter, 78 years old, lives down the street from Benton, she is appalled.  She stated no one has integrity and Don Benton will only show up for his paycheck heck

 19)   Jack Price is angry about the situation and would like help in helping recalling Madore and Mielke.

 20)   Carolyn Pratt and her husband are disgusted by the hiring of Benton and would support a recall for Madore and Mielke.

 21)   Gene Johnson stated Madore and Mielke are a joke, he stated if they stuck their head up their asses, they would have a better chance on finding someone better than Benton.

 22)   Sharon Jackson called to ask what Madore and Mielke are the thinking.  She stated this is turning into the good old boy club.  She just doesn’t understand it.

 23)   John Claney very upset with this action.   He also stated Stuart is doing a good job on making Clark County honest.

 24)   Mike Rutkowski and his wife, concerned voters, wanted to comment how they thought this action was undermining of government process.   It is completely cronyism and their choice to pick an uninformed person is ridiculous.

 25)   Frederick Caton, transplant from California,   corrupt Commission, makes Clark County doesn’t speak well for the County, won’t vote for either one…Lies

 26)   Arla Mattson — Disapproval of hiring Don Benton.  Very arrogant practice.  Strongly advise to rescind the offer to Don Benton.

 27)   Jeffery Watson, Smells stinky to me, Bad business

 28)   Ann Carr is outraged, furious about hiring Benton.  She stated don’t forget we vote!

 29)   Dennis Rice  is not pleased with hire of Don Benton.  He is not qualified.

 30)   Anonymous caller is furious.  He stated Benton can’t wear two hats.  There are too many people out there that are qualified that need jobs including himself.  He stated they needed to shape up for the people that pay them.

 31)   Steve Strouhal called to say it doesn’t seem fair, right, or even legal to hire Benton.

 32)   Anonymous caller called to support Steve, thinks that we should also look at Benton’s relationship with ALEC – American Legislative Exchange Council.  Thinks there is back deal motive going on here.

 33)   Dylan Nor Michael is disappointed Mielke in the appointment of Don Benton.  He thinks no one that has been fired for misappropriation of funds should be in that position with that kind of budget.  He should at least go through the normal hiring process.

 34)   Clark Hollingsworth stated hiring Benton is out of line and should have gone through proper procedure.

 35)   Jackie Walker, registered voter called to say she thinks Mielke and Madore should be recalled and the are arrogant assholes, she stated they are not above anyone else.  She is very upset and very appalled. Very upset.

 36)   Carol Stevens:  Is very upset about Don Benton hire and very disappointed in Commissioner Madore and Mielke.

 37)   Margaret Bomber:  She thinks it is a criminal act to hire Don Benton who is not qualified for the job.  She wants to get them both out of office.

 38)   Kathryn Murphy called to say she is very distressed about hiring Benton without due process.

 39)   Denny O’ Neil, Orchards, in favor of hiring Benton.  He has met Benton and thinks he is right for the job.