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June 26, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels April 19, 2004 Swales bumped by mayor By Steve Zimmerman Ashland Daily Tidings Mayor Alan DeBoer has decided on reappointments to local commissions and there is one prominent omission - DeBoer decided not to reappoint Colin Swales to the Planning Commission. instead he appointed Alan Douma to replace Swales who is finishing a three-and a-half year stint on the commission. Swales was notified of the mayor's decision by DeBoer via e-mail last week. In the e-mail, DeBoer said that he was sorry that Swales had not been able to take the time to meet with him about his reappointment. Swales said he was very busy early in the week with the Madrone Street project site visit and preparing for Tuesday's Planning Commission meeting. "He did try to set up an appointment with me early on in the week. Whether that was to give me the bad news or not I am not sure," Swales said. "I had taxes to prepare and a living to earn and also had a big packet to read for the planning commission and the site visit." The mayor thanked Swales for his service and told him he felt that his best value to the community was as an activist. The fact Swales has come before the city council to oppose projects he was ruling on as a planning commissioner, led the mayor to his decision "I am disappointed he didn't take the time to visit with me, it probably would have helped the discussion," DeBoer said. "I would have been 15 minutes out of his day. I think my biggest concern was that a sitting planning commissioner is actively lobbying against projects." "One of the reasons I appointed him, and I remind everybody that I did appoint him three years ago, was his concern. But once you sit on a planning commission the requirement is to be fair and impartial. And I think Colin has a better benefit to the community as an activist. And I do not mean that to be a negative thing, I think it is a positive thing because he does do it in a constructive manner. But I do think there is some is some risk to the city to have a planning commissioner sitting there who is an activist." No surprise Swales said he was not totally surprised by the decision. "Let's put it this way, I was surprised but considering the track record of how things work in this city, it wasn't altogether unexpected,' he said. "Obviously, the mayor and I don't agree on everything although we have agreed on some things such as expanding our open growth boundary." Swales said he is leaning toward attending the meeting Tuesday but he is not sure if he will speak. DeBoer will announce two other appointments to the commission at the meeting. Beside Douma, he will appoint Doris Manion and David Williams. "She currently sits on the Traffic Safety Commission and I am reappointing her to that commission," he said. "We haven't had a lot of applications this go round, which kind of concerns me from the citizens standpoint." Bill Street, an activist who joined with Swales in opposing the DeBoer house and other projects, has sent an e mail to many in the city expressing his dismay over the Swales matter. He is encouraging those who feel Swales is being unfairly targeted to join him at tomorrow night's meeting. Other business In other business, the city is about to ratify its next labor contract with its police. That should take place following an executive session to held Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. prior to the regular city council meeting at 7 p.m. This action follows similar action two weeks ago that ratified a new contract with Ashland Fire and Rescue. Also on the agenda Tuesday night is the naming of this year's recipient of the James M. Ragland Volunteer Spirit Community Service Award. The celebration begins with cake and refreshments at 6:30 p.m. in the lobby outside the council chambers. The award presentation coincides with a proclamation to be made during the meeting making April 18-24 Volunteer Recognition Week. A second proclamation will recognize April 26-30 as Respite Care Awareness Week. Among other issues to be discussed during the meeting will be an update on the Strawberry Property Partition. Proceeds from the sale will go toward the Housing Trust Fund. And there will be several readings of ordinances and resolutions, one of which will create a Charter Review Committee and a second which will address dedicating property for an open space park. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and can be seen on Cable Channel 9. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams