Editor,

On March 10, 2014, the Whidbey News-Times reported on the settlement of the lawsuit brought by Neil Romney and Vikki Robinson against the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District.

Mr. Romney accepted the settlement as of that date; Ms. Robinson accepted the offer shortly after. The agreement required removal of their “firing” from their employment records, required a letter from the parks board acknowledging no wrongdoing on either of their parts to be read into the public record and awarded Romney and Robinson each $20,000 in damages.

The News-Times article of Sept. 10, 2014, devotes 11 paragraphs detailing the allegations of which they were cleared and one sentence to the fact that the lawsuit was settled in their favor.

Romney and Robinson were exonerated of any and all wrongdoing by the parks board by a legally binding settlement, which the district’s attorneys advised the board to accept in order to avoid trial.

This article is the antithesis of fair and balanced reporting.

If the parks board made procedural errors, I’m confident they are working to ensure compliance with state RCW’s, their own bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order.

Robinson was identified as a qualified candidate for the parks district board based on the board’s own acknowledgement of her innocence and her past service to the district. Any denial of her position on the board — she was sworn in — needs to be accompanied by written reference to the law the board ignored.

In addition, any procedure the law requires must be followed and their actions should be public.

Our community deserves transparency.

Juliana Wilson

Oak Harbor