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Port Orchard council reconsiders and approves censure of Councilmember Dedmon
Summary
After a motion to reconsider, the Port Orchard City Council readopted a July 14 censure of Councilmember Dedmon, citing public statements the council says misrepresented a resignation and undermined public confidence; Dedmon disputed the basis and defended her actions during debate.
Councilmember Diener moved to reconsider the council’s July 14 motion to censure Councilmember Dedmon, bringing the original censure back before the body for debate and revote. Diener read the original censure into the record, saying the council believed Dedmon’s public statements about the resignation of a former council member had "misrepresented what occurred and have contributed to public confusion and unfairly diminished confidence in the integrity of this governing body."
Multiple council members spoke in support of censure, citing repeated disruptions at meetings, disagreement with adherence to Robert’s Rules of Order, and concern about the council’s exposure to litigation. Councilmember Rosa Pepe said the conduct "undermined its staff, the support of the community, and continues to draw unnecessary attention from outside the community," and urged the council to maintain standards of decorum.
Councilmember Dedmon responded that she had repeated information provided by another council member and disputed the claim she had intentionally misrepresented events. Dedmon said she was not prepared for the reconsideration and asked that the specific alleged violations be restated; she also acknowledged interruptions and said she is "working with" steps to improve her participation. After a motion to end debate, the council voted on the underlying censure; the presiding officer announced the motion passed and the censure was adopted. The council concluded that matter and moved on to other business.
