Tim vs. Tom on C-Tran
Clark County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Mielke gave Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt his two cents on Councilor Jeanne Stewart’s ouster from the C-Tran board this month — and Mielke wasn’t too happy about it.
Mielke said there’s no point in having multiple people from each council/commission on the C-Tran board if all of the members have to vote the same way.
Mielke said: “I don’t need to be wasting my time if this is the way the C-Tran Board is to be run.”
And Tim wasn’t about to take it either. Leavitt shot back that perhaps Mielke should re-read C-Tran’s bylaws that say board members are appointed to represent their council/commission — not their perceived constituents.
Leavitt also suggested that perhaps the bylaws be reviewed if “Mr. Mielke wishes to refrain from further participation on CTRAN.”
The full thread is below:
From: Mielke, Tom
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 11:45 AM
To: Leavitt, Tim; Boldt, Marc; Stuart, Steve
Cc: Barron, Bill; Stewart, Jeanne; jeffh@c-tran.org; Smith, Larry; Hansen, Bart; Campbell, Pat
Subject: RE: C-Tran Board vs. Vanc. Council
Mr. Mayor,
The C-Tran Board is made up of elected officials to represent their constituents. Not that of the Board. If each Board has already decided what they all were going to vote, then the rest of you and BOCC don’t need to be there.
I’m talking to you outside my door at the same time.
Heh Heh,
Tom
—–Original Message—–
From: Leavitt, Tim
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 5:04 PM
To: Mielke, Tom; Boldt, Marc; Stuart, Steve
Cc: Barron, Bill; Stewart, Jeanne; jeffh@c-tran.org; Smith, Larry; Hansen, Bart; Campbell, Pat
Subject: RE: C-Tran Board vs. Vanc. Council
Jeff Hamm:
I think it would be helpful to Commissioner Mielke to be given a copy of the CTRAN By-Laws and State Statutes that created the Agency, so that he may have a better understanding of how/why the Board is comprised as it is.
It’s unfortunate that the Commissioner wasn’t in attendance at last night’s board meeting, to hear from the other Board Members their explanations of how they represent the bodies that appointed them.
I think it’s worth exploring changes in By-Laws and State Statute if Mr. Mielke wishes to refrain from further participation on CTRAN.
best,
tim
Timothy D. Leavitt| Mayor
CITY OF VANCOUVER
Mayor/City Manager’s Office
P.O. Box 1995 • Vancouver, WA 98668-1995
P: 360.487.8729 | F: 360.487.8625
www.cityofvancouver.us
From: Mielke, Tom
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 8:15 AM
To: Boldt, Marc; Stuart, Steve
Cc: Barron, Bill; Stewart, Jeanne; Leavitt, Tim; jeffh@c-tran.org
Subject: C-Tran Board vs. Vanc. Council
Gentleman,
With the latest situation at the Vancouver Council, where Councilwomen Stewart was removed from the C-Tran Board because she didn’t vote the way they wanted her to, has gone too far. If this is to be the case, and they all vote the same way, then they only need one person on the C-Tran Board. I’m proud to say the Clark County Board of Commissioners remain independent of one another and can still vote their district and conscience. If the Vancouver City Council members are all expected to vote the same, then the rest of the C-Tran Board Members should all have three votes too. If this sounds ridiculous, it is, and so is the fact that the C=Tran Board can accept this concept. If the goal is to control the meetings by locking up, then the rest of the members are wasting their time and efforts. As for me, this needs to be corrected immediately. I don’t need to be wasting my time if this is the way the C-Tran Board is to be run.
ASAP,
Tom
