PORT TOWNSEND – A proposal to change Port Townsend’s form of government from one with a city manager to one led by a strong mayor will not be on the Nov. 6 general election.
After highlighting allegations of three separate errors the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office made in certifying the petition that would put the proposition on the ballot, the City Council voted unanimously Monday in a special meeting to rescind its Aug. 6 resolution.
The resolution to put the measure on the ballot followed the Auditor’s Office certification of the petition as sufficient on July 30.
The petition required 455 Port Townsend resident signatures, and it was certified with 458.
Mayor Mark Welch began Monday’s special meeting by explaining the process that led to the allegations of errors.
Welch said he had some concerns about the certification process and wanted an attorney to look into it, but that John Watts, the city’s attorney, was on vacation.
For that reason, and to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest, he had outside legal counsel review the certification procedures.
Attorney P. Stephen DiJulio, of the law firm Foster Pepper of Seattle, who commonly works as outside legal counsel for the city, was hired for $395 an hour.
At Monday’s meeting, Councilman Frank Benskin objected to Welch taking such actions on his own.
“My concern is, you’ve taken it upon yourself to hire Mr. DiJulio,” Benskin said.
“I feel like your actions are out of line. If you talk about the process being flawed, I think the process on our part is flawed because of your actions.”
Watts said Welch acted within his authority and that, given the time sensitivity, his actions were appropriate.
According to state statute, the county Auditor’s Office must receive a resolution to hold an election to change the form of government 84 days before it would appear on the ballot.
The deadline for the November ballot is today.
DiJulio said he found errors in the process the Auditor’s Office used.
A third issue came to light Monday afternoon.
When someone signs a petition twice, not only is the second signature invalid, but the first one is as well, said DiJulio.
