LETTERS RE PLANNING DIRECTOR

Related pages

Editorial: Termination of Arnold wrong move

Guest column by Scott Bell

Letters about Editorial

Guest column by Stephanie Buffum Field Friends of the San Juans Executive Director

Planning Director fired

Response to Editorial: Termination of Arnold wrong move

Dear Editor,

posted 09/11/03
I could not agree more strongly with your analysis of this sad matter. What a nasty blow to a dedicated public servant, not to mention that our islands will be so much worse for this mistaken move.

We citizens have now spent years working on Hamlet Plans, partly under Laura's direction, and later under Pat Mann's. We expected to have them completed and before the Commisioners by this time, certainly no later than November.

Now who knows how many unwanted and irreversible developments will slip through before this matter ever gets whetted by the BOCC. This is in-excusable and heart-breaking.

Irmgard Conley

Dear Editor,

posted 08/20/03
As a long-time Lopez and Mercer Island Architect, I've seen a lot of Building/ Planning Departments- and a whole lot of Building/ Planning Officials in my time. Laura Arnold has impressed me whenever I run into her- or see her hand in shaping SJC policy, regulations and related.

SJC's treatment of her is very short-sighted. This is not the way keep good, devoted public servants or to encourage new employees to join (and stay) with our County Government.

Jerry Gropp Architect AIA PS

Dear Editor,

posted 08/20/03
What a sad reflection of the state of political affairs in San Juan County. We need encouragement and appreciation trickling down from the "top," not disrespect and insult. The decision to get rid of Laura Arnold, who has served this county unrelentingly for years, is not only a terrible disservice to her, it's an insult to our entire county. Shames on you John Evans and Darcie Nielsen.

To everyone else in the county--time to trickle up.

Janet Thomas

Dear Editor,

posted 08/20/03
I am puzzled by the assertions of those who oppose the re-positioning of Laura Arnold that a smaller permit center staff will automatically result in a developer friendly atmosphere. Do fewer tellers at the bank make for faster service?

One thing that I do agree with the majority of the writters on is that the GMA is a costly and unwieldy tool. The countys adoption of the GMA was a mistake from the beginning. Its ratification has allowed a small group of activists to hold the county hostage to their fringe philosophies for too long.

It is time to withdraw from the GMA, many counties have never taken the poisoned fruit that is the state funding offered to those who participated. How much do we really benefit after we defend ourselves from the lawsuits filed by the Friends of the San Juans? If we have a planning problem here, how come we think that the place to solve it is in Olympia?

The GMA is a one size fits all attempt to make every county in the state follow the lead of King County, there is obviously no way for us to address the specific needs of our citizens without facing repeated legal challenges from the "Friends".

Several statements from their director indicate a disconnect from those of us who have commited to this community. Does she really think that the only possible way for our community to prosper is if Laura Arnold is the head of the planning department? Laura has been, and will continue to be, a valuable member of the permit center staff, but she is not the pivot on which our economy turns.

Bill Bailey

Letter from County Commissioner Darcie Nielsen

Dear Editor,

posted 08/15/03
The BOCC did not fire Laura Arnold. The BOCC terminated her contract as Planning Director and guaranteed her a new position in a consolidated planning and permit department. I know there is a lot of spin going on around this but the fact is that I have been advocating for ONE department to deal with all land use related issues since the day I took office in 1997.

In fact, I was asked to run in 1996 because the previous BOCC had split the department for purely political reasons. It did not make policy or economic sense then and it does not make sense now, especially in a county of our size, to have two separate departments to deal with issues that are so interconnected. And, with our budget deficit situation it makes no sense whatsoever.

There are few, if any, counties in this state who separate their critical land use management functions into two departments. I am relieved that we will finally bring things back together and I believe the new management team of the permit center director, the land use manager, and the former planning director will provide an outstanding level of skills and management forte for our land use issues.

I look forward to the continued BOCC discussion on consolidation of the two departments on Monday, August 18th at 9:00am in the Courthouse.

Darcie Nielsen Commissioner, District 1
San Juan County

Response to Editorial: Termination of Arnold wrong move

Dear Editor,

posted 08/15/03
I totally agree with the analysis and editorial position above. Laura Arnold has worked consistently for the benefit of the community. To terminate herin this manner is most unprofessional after her years of service for San Juan County. I hope the BOCC will provide her with a new position in the reorganized department that will continue her current salary and make use of her many professional talents.

Carolyn deRoos

Dear Editor,

posted 08/15/03
I am so sorry to hear of Laura Arnold's treatment by the county commissioners. She has done a magnificent job over the years and undoubtedly has more knowledge about San Juan County's planning processes, the GMA and all the other rules and regulations than anyone. She should be made Citizen of the Last Two Decades, not fired! Thank you for your editorial, bringing this issue to light.

Nancy DeVaux

Dear Editor,

posted 08/15/03
Thanks for your strong editorial in favor of continued thorough and honest planning in this county. Any survey of island residents would, I believe, show a strong majority in favor of the carful, conservative land use planning Laura Arnold and her staff have done. I suspect the two commissioners no longer want to take the heat from pro-development islanders who want a constant dilution of our land use rules. Perhaps this takes the pressure off them - it certainly puts it on the rest of us. Now the emphasis is to be more and more on permits. It should have remained on planning.

Lee Sturdivant
Friday Harbor

Dear Editor,

posted 08/15/03
I worked closely with Laura Arnold during the ten years that I served on the County Planning Commission. I found her to be an excellent administrator: thorough and clear in trying to get county regulations to mesh with GMA, a very difficult task. I do not know much about the current situation, but I can not believe that firing Ms. Arnold and demoting the pl anning Department to a subsidiary position under th Permit Center is a good idea. Should this happen in such a cavalier fashion? I think not.

Sally W. Bryan

SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008

news @sanjuanislander.com

ABOUT US | ADVERTISING INFO | CONTACT INFORMATION |