Al's Morning Meeting

Due to new ethics rules in Oregon, anyone who is on a planning commission, city council, a mayor or city manager -- and the governor, legislators, lobbyists, etc. -- must complete a statement of economic interest.

What makes the story interesting is that for 34 years, 98 cities and six counties did not have to complete the form until now. Because the form asks for names of relatives over 18 who do not live with the government official, many people are balking at disclosing the information. Plus, every quarter, another form is to be completed regarding honoraria and monies given for trips, etc.

So far, three planning commissioners and a city councilor have resigned from Umatilla, Ore.; a planning commissioner has resigned from Hermiston, Ore.; the mayor and mayor pro tem resigned from the Irrigon, Ore., city council; plus around the state, planning commissioners and city councilors have resigned practically en masse. In Elgin, Ore., the entire planning commission resigned a couple of weeks ago. This week, the mayor and the entire city council resigned. All because these folks do not want to complete the forms and disclose what they consider information which is none of the government's business. Many of these towns who are struggling with resignations have never had to complete the SEI (statement of economic interest) forms.

How does this affect small towns where the pool of willing volunteers is small? In Irrigon, because the planning commission does not have a quorum, no business can take place and their city's charter does not take into account what would happen if there were no planning commission.