SELECTED EXCERPTS FROM GOLD BAR’S COUNCIL MINUTES

(Re Joan and Robert Amenn)

 

[This is a direct response to Joan Amenn’s Letter to the Editor published in the Sept. 28, 2005 Monroe Monitor and Valley News, and the two quotes she used from the Gold Bar Minutes.  As usual, the Amenns’ perspective and facts are askew.]

 

Below is the unedited excerpt from Gold Bar’s May 17, 2005 Council Meeting Minutes, which was selectively edited for general reader consumption  by Joan Amenn in her 9/82/05 Monitor letter to the editor.  The bolded, italicized font reflects Mrs. Amenn’s excerpt. 

 

Also of interest:  Mrs. Amenn incorrectly stated that this was excerpted from the May 3, 2005 Minutes, rather the correct council meeting on May 17th:

 

“Mayor Hawkins reported we received a bill from the County for approximately $89,000 for the megahertz system.  Staff pulled out the contracts and cover letters and discovered the system was not rolled into the contract.  Staff and Council* missed this information during review.  Mayor Hawkins stated there are potential loopholes in the contract and the State Constitution.  She is working on an argument regarding the issue and will keep Council informed.  Some discussion followed.  Councilmember Amenn requested a Council consensus to hold a workshop on the Sheriff’s Contract.  No consensus was given.”

 

[*G.R.I.T. note:  Mrs. Amenn’s husband, Councilman Robert Amenn, was present during the 5/17/05 meeting, and other meetings during which this subject was discussed.]

 

 

The second quote used by Mrs. Amenn (but not correctly attributed to the May 3, 2005 council meeting minutes) appears below.  Once again, the text used in her 9/28/05 letter to the editor is in bolded italics:

 

“Mayor Hawkins reported she heard County Councilmember Jeff Sax is spearheading an effort to have law enforcement contract cities pay for “indirect” costs above and beyond the negotiated price.  She doesn’t have all the information at this time but it could be as high as $17,000.  Some discussion followed.  Mayor Hawkins will keep the Council informed regarding this issue.”

 

 

OTHER EXCERPTS OF GENERAL INTEREST, TAKEN FROM THE GOLD BAR MINUTES

 

Below are but  a few quotes from Gold Bar council meeting minutes which will offer the reader a tiny taste of the Real Robert Amenn Story and how he has worked diligently against the Gold Bar council even before he took office in January, 2004.

 

His actions have resulted in significant potential liabilities to the City through his, and his wife’s, actions:  (1) Their botched recall attempt of Mayor Hawkins in the summer of 2004; (2) their close allegiance with Dorothy Croshaw and the Sonstengs in assisting and supporting the Sonstengs’ failed legal attempts to disbar Gold Bar’s city attorney and to harass Mayor Hawkins and wreak havoc at her place of business; and (3) he and his wife’s part in providing deep assistance to a failed lawsuit attempt against the City of Gold Bar and Hawkins personally for her firing of David Sonsteng (the former Gold Bar Building Official) For Cause.

 

If readers wish to access ALL of the Minutes we have available on our website, they should access our left-hand menu item, “Gold Bar” or copy and paste this link into their browser:  http://www.ittakesgrit.org/Gold_Bar_Minutes_Page.htm

 

Excerpt from April 5, 2005 Minutes: “Sonsteng Lawsuit:

 

“Mayor Hawkins sent a memo to Council stating the Sonsteng suit had been dismissed by summary judgment last month.  Subsequent information she received was that AWC might not be filing against the Sonstengs to recover legal fees.  However, she received information today that AWC will be doing so.  We might get some of our legal expenses returned.”

 

Excerpt, May 24, 2005 Special Meeting Minutes:

 

“Mayor Hawkins attempted to provide additional information.  Councilmember Amenn interrupted the Mayor, calling for a point of order. He stated the issue was before the Council at this point and the Mayor cannot participate in Council discussion.  Mayor Hawkins overruled his point of order.  Councilmember Amenn appealed the decision.  Mayor Hawkins attempted to ask the Council if they wished to address Councilmember Amenn’s appeal of her decision.  Councilmember Amenn continued to interrupt and would not allow the Mayor to poll the Council.  Mayor Hawkins called him out of order.  Councilmember Amenn moved to adjourn the meeting.  Mayor Hawkins denied the motion.  Councilmember Amenn continued to interrupt the meeting and was called out of order twice more by Mayor Hawkins.

 

Recess:  Mayor Hawkins called a recess pending notification of law enforcement to remove Councilmember Amenn from the meeting.

 

The meeting reconvened at 6:50 PM after a recess of approximately ten to fifteen minutes.  Mayor Hawkins announced that Councilmember Amenn has been removed from the meeting.”

 

[Note:  This was not the first time Councilman Amenn had to be physically restrained and a council meeting stopped because of his unprofessional and disruptive behavior.]

 

Excerpt, June 7, 2005 Regular Council Meeting Minutes:

 

[During “Mayor’s Report” portion of meeting]:

 

“Mayor Hawkins reported that at the last council meeting an attorney from AWC was in the audience to observe the meeting.  Mayor Hawkins had asked AWC if they could provide some assistance to Gold Bar with the meetings and interactions.  AWC RMSA sent Larry Hoffman, the attorney that had provided training previously to the City regarding meetings and roles and responsibilities of Councilmembers and Mayors.  He will be submitting his observations and comments in a written report soon.  One of his suggestions is to take the Bothell Protocol Manual and adapt it to Gold Bar.  Mayor Hawkins is currently reviewing the manual.  Once Mr. Hoffman’s report is received, it would be a good time to reschedule the Council Retreat.”

 

 [During “Councilmember comments” portion of meeting]:

 

“Councilmember Amenn stated he supported Councilmember Turner’s ideas regarding the park.  He then called attention to a packet of information he compiled and handed out to Council regarding council meetings, point of orders, appeals of points of order, and impartiality of the Chair.  He stated he would also be distributing the information to the citizens.”

 

Councilmember Price, in reference to Councilmember Amenn’s comments, stated the Policies and Procedures have been tabled for some time.  Part of those procedures deal with the issues mentioned by Councilmember Amenn.  He stated it would have been helpful if Councilmember Amenn had attended the meeting with Mr. Hoffman and if he has been at the first Council Retreat.  Maybe someday the procedures can be completed and Council can achieve another retreat.“

 

[Councilmember Hill]: She then addressed Councilmember Amenn’s comments regarding meetings, stating she felt full participation by all members of the Council has not been possible due to Mr. Amenn’s tendency to ruminate on every minor subject that comes before Council.  In addition, his removal from meetings or early adjournment has been necessitated by the need to maintain order and decorum.  Hopefully Council can work on the procedures and that will take care of the problems.

 

[During Citizen closing comments]:

 

Bert McClellan read a statement to the Council voicing his objection to Councilmember Amenn’s behavior at Council meetings and suggested the Council officially request Mr. Amenn to resign.