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Resident alleges physical contact by city administrator at Ryan House open house; administrator denies
Summary
A Sumner resident alleged the city rushed demolition decisions around the Ryan House and that City Administrator Jason Wilson made physical contact with a citizen at an open house; Wilson denied the allegation in the meeting and said he told the citizen to step back.
Resident Randall Adams told the council he and other citizens were upset by the city’s handling of the Ryan House and alleged a physical confrontation between a city administrator and a citizen at an open house in 2023. Adams said staff rushed a demolition vote and that, at an open house, “CA Wilson got very frustrated, leaned forward, and forcefully jabbed his index figure into the chest of Kim Foster,” causing Foster to step backward.
Adams said the open house prompted intense citizen questions and alleged staff repeatedly directed attendees to Sumner Connect materials that did not answer those questions. He said five reports “magically appeared after the city was sued” and that citizens felt the city had moved too quickly without current information. Adams also said citizens prioritized using proceeds from the golf-course sale first for roads, then sidewalks, then police and fourth for remodeling the Ryan House.
City Administrator Jason Wilson addressed the allegation during his report and called the accusation “patently false.” Wilson said, “During the open house, I instructed mister Foster to quit putting his finger in my face and to step back. Mister Foster complied, and our conversation ended shortly thereafter.” Wilson said he would answer council questions if asked.
No formal council action or investigation was announced during the meeting. The matter was raised in public comment and responded to by the city administrator in his report; the council did not vote or direct staff to take a specific investigatory step during the meeting.
