WHAT’S WITH THE ADS IN THE COFFEE BREAK?

WHAT’S WITH THE ADS IN THE COFFEE BREAK?

Who’s behind the ads? Sheryl Bremmer and Mary O’Dea are former members of city advisory committees who resigned 18 months ago. O’Dea resigned after learning she would not be reappointed to the utilities commission, and Bremmer resigned after the city decided to hire a professional land use hearings officer. They remain disgruntled.

They have filed over a dozen complaints with agencies and regulatory bodies. They even filed a bar complaint against the late Fred Carleton after he passed away. All but one led nowhere.

What have agencies said about their complaints?

Department of Revenue

“After reviewing City of Bandon budget documents, I have found the district’s document complete, accurate and in compliance with Local Budget Law.”

Oregon State Bar

Because we find no professional misconduct, we will take no further action on this matter (February 2021)
“Because I find no professional misconduct, I will take no further action on this matter.” (September 2021)

International City County Managers Association

“The CPC found that the information shared about the state audit was insufficient to demonstrate how your conduct may have violated the Code of Ethics.” (February, 2021)

Why hasn’t the city responded before now?

As a public official, you have to put up with most slander.
We are actually busy getting things done.
It is tough to respond to innuendo.

What about this off-channel reservoir and well field?

An off-channel reservoir will cost 8 to 9-million dollars.
We don’t have it, and without rate-setting authority can’t use revenue bonds to finance the reservoir.
The city has senior water rights to the creek, which have never been fully asserted, and we may be able to supplement the stream with groundwater and save millions of dollars.
It would be irresponsible not to see if that option may work, as is has for many other cities, but the off-channel reservoir remains a possibility.

Do we need a cost of service study?

We know how much it costs to run our little town without hiring a consultant. The information is publicly available every month.
We might do a limited cost of service study in the future for electrical service.

What about this “fraudulent” accident claim?

O’Dea and Bremmer hired an attorney to file what is called a “tort claim notice” in January, which is essentially notice that they intend to sue the city,( i.e. the taxpayers.)
The city turned the claim over to its insurance carrier. The carrier wrote the attorney a letter with “date of accident” in the “re” line, which was the date of their letter. That’s it.

Bonds for city manager and employees.

This refers to a charter requirement that the city manager be covered by a blanket bond. A “blanket bond” is: “insurance sold to financial institutions covering theft by employees and losses due to burglary, robbery, or forgery .” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bankers'%20blanket%20bond. The city has this insurance and it covers all employees. They know this yet spread innuendo anyway.

City attorney selection.

The city council appointed the late Fred Carleton’s partner, as she and her legal assistants have a good knowledge of city affairs and institutional history. By the way our new city attorney was also cleared of two bar complaints filed by O’Dea/Bremmer in the short time she has been city attorney.

City Manager’s salary.

Bandon’s salary scale for city manager is in line with, or lower than other cities in the region, and substantially less than other coastal jurisdictions, or other positions currently open around the state. Our city manager also manages an electric utility.

General Obligation Bond projects.

All GO Bond projects are being designed and bid. Nothing is being left out. We waited to this year to sell the bonds on the advice of our financial consultants and bond counsel. The interest rate is under 2%.

City bond rating?

The city’s bond rating did drop in 2020. This was mostly a result of the inability to set water and sewer rates under the charter, and financial issues stemming from the former city administration, which has now been gone for 2 years. Our financial strength still got us a 1.8% interest rate in the fall. We were able to do a 15-year payoff instead of 20 years, saving taxpayers over $700,000.

Why is the city manager indemnified?

All employees of public bodies are indemnified. It is state law. Besides, who would work for a city or county otherwise?

What happened with Councilor Braun?

In 2019 the city discovered a critical error in the autopay system going back years. There were a number of customers with the same issue, and Councilor Braun was one of them. The city electric department with the former acting city manager proposed a settlement that would cover the city’s costs, given that it was the city’s mistake. O’Dea and Bremmer filed an ethics complaint, and Peter signed a stipulated order to save the city the hassle of dealing with the matter further. There was no “guilty” finding.

What if I have questions?

If you have questions about anything in the ads, go ahead and ask.