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http://www.omniture.com --> Email Story to a Friend June 7, 2006 Recall didn't quell Gold Hill bickering By Sanne Specht Mail Tribune GOLD HILL — Any hopes that the demise of a council recall would bring an end to City Hall infighting died at Monday night's meeting. Although there were moments of uneasy camaraderie over news of success with the city's new water intake plant and a proposal for a world-class whitewater kayak park, tensions continued to crackle between Mayor Sherry Young, the bitterly divided council and vocal members of the audience. Center stage in the political drama remains the fate of the city's small Police Department. Lines have been drawn over Chief Dean Muchow's handling of the department's budget and officers. Some council members and some in the audience accused council members Donna Silva, Gus Wolf and Jan Fish of attempting to micromanage and even derail Muchow. Others heartily applauded the trio's efforts to demand accountability from the city department head. Each side views the other with mistrust, if not complete hostility, they admit. Before the recall attempt, Young appointed Councilwoman Kathleen Price as police liaison after Fish resigned the job. Price and Young signed the recall petitions against all three council members, and Silva and Fish said Price and the two campaigned for their recall. Having to go through Price to get answers to questions about the Police Department is not acceptable, Silva said. Price decides what council members' queries are appropriate and filters what little information they do receive, she said. "I'd just as soon tell you to go to hell," said Silva. "I have a right to ask questions and get clear, direct answers." Price on Monday resisted council members' requests that Muchow include the initials of responding officers and call duration in his monthly reports. She then lobbied heavily for a 5 percent raise for the chief. "To not give him his 5 percent raise would be a crime," said Price. Muchow was not in attendance and consideration of his raise was put off. At the end of the contentious three-hour meeting, Silva voiced her frustrations to the entire council. "We're all angry and we're building brick walls," said Silva. "I am tired of the bickering and complaining. This is a business, not a bunch of 14-year-old girls fighting over make-up." Citing a Mail Tribune editorial which called for mediation, Silva said simply, "We need help." Perhaps mediation is the answer, replied Young. "Jan Fish and I have an appointment with Mediation Works on Thursday," she said. Young clearly surprised some of the council members when she announced she and Fish were already headed to mediation. Gold Hill resident Elizabeth Udall is a former board member for Mediation Works — and a friend to both Fish and Young. "I talked to each of them. They're both dear friends," said Udall, who also wrote a letter to the Tribune pleading for the city to consider mediation. Fish and Young are no longer speaking outside of council meetings. Their friendship may be irrevocably broken, but their working relationship needs to be repaired, Fish said. "I would like to feel I can have a civil meeting where we're not glaring at each other," said Fish. If things go well on Thursday, Young said she will ask mediators if they will work with the city. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or at [email protected] Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy