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Residents and staff urge Lebanon City Council for public hearing on City Hall; water and sewer staffing concerns highlighted
Summary
During public comment at the June 8 Lebanon City Council meeting, resident Ron Tramy pressed for a public hearing before any decision on tearing down City Hall. City employee Jess Lamar read a letter apologizing for a previous outburst and urged greater transparency; water/sewer staff warned coverage is thin while one operator is on vacation.
Several public commenters at the June 8 Lebanon City Council meeting urged the council to hold a public hearing before any decision about demolishing City Hall and pressed the council for more public transparency. Council and staff also described near-term staffing arrangements in the water and sewer department while a key employee takes vacation.
Ron Tramy told the council the question of tearing down City Hall requires an open public hearing "You need to have a public hearing," he said, urging that the community be given time and opportunity for discussion and that alternatives or donated space be considered for any displaced services.
A city employee who identified himself as Mike described being the sole person at the sewer plant and asked for assurance that coverage and communication would be maintained while he is on vacation. He thanked RJ and others who agreed to provide coverage and described alarm routing: "RJ is going to have alarms come to him. We put Kevin Burkeman on there to receive alarms," he said. RJ later updated the council that Fair Plumbing has submitted a change order and that the lift station fiberglass tube has been ordered.
A written statement from city employee and resident Jess Lamar was read aloud by a council member. In it Lamar apologized for a prior outburst and urged the council to increase public transparency, using a metaphor: "It feels like we pull the puzzle out and there are 100 pieces spread across the table and... the community is trying to put it together blindfolded." Lamar said clearer job descriptions and explanations about funding shifts (for example, moving items under a TIF) would help the public follow council decisions.
Council response and next steps Council members said they intend to hold a public hearing on City Hall but indicated it will be more productive once appraisals and numbers are available; Paul said he is gathering survey and appraisal numbers and expected to have more on July 6. Staff said committee meetings are scheduled (finance and other committees meet June 15 and committees meet July 6) to process pay requests and further discuss staffing and project budgets.
Provenance: Public comments on City Hall and staffing occurred during the public-comment sections beginning with Ron Tramy's remarks (SEG 071) through Mike's staffing remarks and RJ's departmental update (SEG 095 through SEG 662). Jess Lamar's letter appears in the transcript at SEG 953–SEG 999.
