Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Fisher queen: Cricket helps biologists understand impacts of logging on habitat ... Mail Tribune 100, Feb. 7, 1916 ... Since You Asked: Reader worried about mosquitoes, Zika virus ... Fisher queen: Cricket helps biologists understand impacts of logging on habitat ... Mail Tribune 100, Feb. 7, 1916 ... Since You Asked: Reader worried about mosquitoes, Zika virus ... Closed-door policy at Ashland City Hall City officials say loud, menacing people spurred new rules on access It used to be that anyone could wander into Ashland City Hall and expect help in their dealings with the city manager, recorder, city attorney and human resources. Comment By JOHN DARLING MailTribune.com By JOHN DARLING Posted Feb. 16, 2009 at 12:01 AM By JOHN DARLING Posted Feb. 16, 2009 at 12:01 AM » Social News It used to be that anyone could wander into Ashland City Hall and expect help in their dealings with the city manager, recorder, city attorney and human resources. No more. Because of an increasing number of people who have become loud and menacing, the city on Jan. 1 put an end to the open-door policy, locking all doors except the entry to the utility payment office and requiring all visitors to have appointments or be signed in by an employee. The buttoned-up security may have paid off Wednesday when utility department employees had to deal with a man who threatened suicide in their lobby, an incident that went on for 45 minutes, said City Administrator Martha Bennett. Police came and talked to the man, who was then released. City Recorder Barbara Christensen, whose office on a ground-floor corner previously had a public door, said she had to call police a few months ago when a "disturbed individual who had issues with our judge was yelling and using body language that was threatening. I was scared." Christensen said she, like other staff, wanted to continue direct access for the public. Continued threatening incursions, however, changed her mind. Emerging from business in City Hall Thursday, City Councilman Eric Navickas said, "I'm disappointed they had to take these actions. It doesn't represent openness, like you want to see from government, but it's been a long-standing problem. "It's always better to err of the side of openness in government," he said. Threatening behavior can happen with regular residents who are known to city staff, as well as from strangers who appear unstable, said Bennett. Navickas said city management analyst Ann Seltzer was harassed by someone who demanded action against "chemtrails" (white streaks in the sky from airplanes). Bennett noted the person was a frequent visitor to city hall who was unescorted and became "fairly belligerent." "We're tying to make sure that people who work and visit here are safe," said Bennett. "You can't wander around here. You sign in and get a tag and we escort you. The vast majority of people come here for business reasons and they often come without appointment. The new system is not friendly to that. It's not as casual as it used to be." Ali Brooks, paralegal for the city attorney in an upstairs office, said that before the new system, "I had hostile people come in here, upset about city things." She now feels "absolutely safe," she said. Under the new security, employees use coded cards that are read by a scanner and punch numbers in a keypad so they can be buzzed through three locked doors. Only one door, into the utility department, is open to the public. Visitors are greeted by clerks behind the payment counter who can call staff members to escort visitors. Staff members are trained to deal with unexpected situations from the public, said Pat Woods, customer service manager for the utility department, who dealt Wednesday with the man threatening suicide. "It was no problem. No one felt vulnerable. I called the police and they gave him a wellness check and talked to him," said Woods. Developer Brent Thompson objected to the higher security and said doors should be open, with employees able to trip a switch to summon police in the event of danger. "I have strong feelings that government should be accessible. We don't have a crime or danger problem," said Thompson. "There could be an occasional rare person who could somehow annoy officials, but there is a police presence on the plaza. There are ways of controlling access. They could leave the door open all the time and have a trip switch to where someone could monitor it. "City officials are barricaded in there because they're afraid of the public, and that's really absurd," Thompson continued. "We have someplace where you can't gain access. It just can't become a way of life, where everyone is afraid of everybody. The people we pay to run our cities should be accessible to us easily without having to go through a checkpoint." The new system marks the end of an era when town folk walking by could feel comfortable to drop in and chat, Bennett observed. "It's inconvenient, but it's safer for everyone." John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. By JOHN DARLING MailTribune.com By JOHN DARLING Posted Feb. 16, 2009 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501