Hansen questions draft meeting, ethics policy

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD Commissioner Greg Hansen criticized a draft governance policy recently that sets guidelines for commission roles and meeting behavior for both the commission and the public.

The policy is being considered after public commission meetings erupted into name calling  earlier this year when former PUD attorney Ray Foianini’s contract wasn’t extended.

Referencing an earlier version of the draft, Hansen claims information will be harder to obtain, reduces what little checks and balances commissioners now have and takes away the everyday oversight he believes the commission should have.

He also claimed the policy takes away from public input, as residents will have to fill out a form to speak on a ?non-agenda item. Each person has a three-minute time limit in which they can speak, according to the draft.

Then the commission president will decide if the topic can be addressed during the public meeting.

“I think the PUD belongs to the people,” he said. “I think it’s our job to listen to them.”

On Wednesday, utility spokesperson Sarah Morford said the commissioners currently have a draft copy of the policy they’re working on editing.

The draft also states citizen complaints brought to the commission during a public meeting won’t be heard or considered unless they’re related to an agenda item.

Commission President Terry Brewer said he wouldn’t agree with Hansen unless he heard some specifics.

Brewer also reminded Hansen the commission hasn’t adopted anything and that he received no feedback from the other commissioners so far.

Brewer said he spoke to at least one commissioner representing every entity the draft was compiled from and was told they didn’t feel they gave up anything.

The draft document was compiled from other public entities’ policies.

Brewer said he and Grant PUD Commissioner Randy Allred heard during a recent performance audit that the district came up short because it doesn’t have those policies in place.

Allred said he agreed with Hansen that the draft doesn’t acknowledge the commission majority rules the room and policy for the PUD, not the general manager or the board president.

Hansen said state law spells out what the commission can and can’t do.

“I think this is limiting the commissioners to do the job as they were elected,” he said. “If there’s something that needs to be said and goes against the grain of the rest of the commission, that’s just too bad.”

Brewer advised the others commissioners to look at the draft with an open mind and to use their pens.

Commissioners Bob Bernd was absent from the meeting.