Guest column: Time to stop park and rec district bullying By TITA MONTERO For Seaside Signal
Guest column: Time to stop park and rec district bullying
Tita Montero
I’m so glad that Skyler Archibald, executive director of the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District, recounted the gist of our 2016 interchange when I expressed positivity for possible uses of Broadway Middle School. I thought he might have forgotten that I haven’t been opposed to SEPRD offering more activities to a wider audience. But that doesn’t mean I was in favor of or voted for the 2018 bond. Wanting and being able to afford with open process are two very different issues.
I am not opposed to sports or recreation or children or fun or health — as has been accused. I — and the small vocal group to which I belong, Transparency for SEPRD Taxpayers — are opposed to lack of transparency, lack of adequate information to assess cost, process and outcomes.
Even at Tuesday night’s SEPRD meeting, after having voted to authorize Archibald to negotiate a deal with Seaside School District, the main message from the board members was “trust us.” How do I trust when I have seen a document with plans saying most of the building will remain unused and unmaintained for three years? How do I trust when I see the possibilities of a levy or bond in that document? A document board members were instructed to keep confidential.
My small group of “naysayers” want one thing — put the purchase to a vote of the owners of SEPRD — the taxpayers. No threats. No bullying. Archibald has attacked us for asserting our freedom of speech.
Archibald seems to have no problem with city councilors speaking in favor of SEPRD’s actions. Why the difference re the one or two speak against the process? When one of the SEPRD board members inferred impropriety on my part to be speaking out I sent the following message to the whole board: “I am first a citizen, taxpayer and voter in several governmental entities: Clatsop County District 2, Clatsop Port District, City of Seaside Ward 2, Seaside School District, Union Health District, Sunset Empire Transportation District and SEPRD. As a voter and taxpayer I have every right to make my opinions and wishes known to those in the various elected bodies. When I was elected as a city councilor 10 years ago, my rights as a citizen, taxpayer and voter were not rescinded. That is why I am always careful to indicate I’m acting as a private citizen, which has been noted in all articles printed by EO Media. Please make no further mistake about this.”
Archibald should have been well aware of this admonishment. The inferences he makes border, in my mind, on slander.
This same board member indicated that Archibald told her everything being said by Transparency for SEPRD Taxpayers is lies and personal attacks. He denies the conversation. Who should I believe?
It is not transparent to issue a memo to the SEPRD board labeled confidential which lays out a plan for paying for the indebtedness of $2.5 million Broadway Middle School purchase and more than $5 million building rehabilitation; which includes bond and/or levy as future financing strategies and indicated the building will lay mostly unused for three years from purchase; and more. I’ve posted that document. Want to read it? Then tell me who you trust.
Tita Montero is a member of Seaside City Council. She is writing as a citizen, taxpayer and voter.
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