Is secret meeting the ‘sound of freedom’ | Letter

When Mayor Dudley and his minions met in secret executive session to plot the cutting of the signature 330-year-old oak tree at the Oak Harbor Post Office, they violated the Washington Open Public Meetings Act. Claiming that it was to avoid litigation is a transparent ruse that will never stand up in court. In fact, it has only made litigation more likely. Much more likely.

March 28, 2014 4:13 pm

Editor,

When Mayor Dudley and his minions met in secret executive session to plot the cutting of the signature 330-year-old oak tree at the Oak Harbor Post Office, they violated the Washington Open Public Meetings Act.

Claiming that it was to avoid litigation is a transparent ruse that will never stand up in court. In fact, it has only made litigation more likely. Much more likely.

Because they were acting illegally, that litigation may well be against Dudley and his gang personally, not as city representatives.

Dudley did meet the letter of the city’s Oak Tree Protection Law — barely, if not its spirit. The City applied for the required permit to remove the tree on Friday, March 21, time unknown, and Development Services Director Steve Powers issued the permit the same day, also time unknown.

Dudley and his minions clearly took extraordinary steps to shield their plot from public view, lest those pesky citizens get uppity, ask questions, state their opinions and otherwise interfere with the smooth running of Dudleyville.

Is a secret meeting the Sound of Freedom?

Is a chainsaw at 7 a.m. on a Sunday morning the Sound of Freedom?

Please come to the meeting at Oak Harbor City Hall 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. Wear a black armband to show that you are mourning the loss of open government and the tree.

Steve Erickson

Whidbey Environmental Action Network