Latest news with #WaldportCityCouncil
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Defeat for democracy'? Waldport City Council reinstates mayor after hostility complaints
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After consulting their attorney in a closed executive session, Waldport City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday, reinstating Mayor Heide Lambert after she was expelled amid complaints she created a hostile work environment. The resolution comes after Mayor Lambert challenged the decision, leading Lincoln County Circuit Court Judge Sheryl Bachart to order the mayor's reinstatement. The mayor's removal and reinstatement stems from letters sent by two City of Waldport employees on March 27, alerting City Council of 'unacceptable and aggressive behavior' from the mayor two days earlier when the mayor visited City Hall to get her mail. 'Mayor Lambert was clutching a small stack of envelopes, demanding to know why the letters had not been scanned to her and council,' one employee wrote. 'I greeted Mayor Lambert, asking how I might help. She, obviously frustrated and with an accusatory tone, commanded to know why the letter scans had not been sent to her, as they were addressed to her. I let her know that the letters had, in fact, been scanned and sent to (City Manager Dann Cutter) and that their delivery would come from either Dann or (another City Hall staffer). As that is their role.' Beloved Portland restaurant to hold steak sale amid temporary closure 'She continued, in a confrontational manner, by insisting the letters be scanned to her and stated that 'all these letters are complaints against Dann,' as she clasped the letters, shaking them at us in emphasis. How she could possibly be aware of the contents of the letters without having read them is beyond me,' the letter continued. 'During a pause in her relentless onslaught, I let Mayor Lambert know that since none of our answers would satisfy her, we should end this conversation, and she should speak with Dann. She, of course, had the last word saying, 'I won't be speaking with Dann. I will be speaking with legal counsel,'' the letter claimed. 'I'm not easily intimidated,' the letter continues, 'but Mayor Lambert's behavior was not only out of line but was also in violation of city charter.' A new variant of COVID-19 may be driving up cases in some parts of the world, WHO says In response to the complaints, the mayor sent a letter to City Council, explaining, 'I have read both letters and feel concerned that my statements and demeanor, thoughmisinterpreted, might have contributed to feelings of unease, and I apologize for notrealizing this at the time.' The mayor continued, 'While I want to be accountable for anything I may have said or done that caused either of these employees to feel 'uncomfortable' or 'Intimidated,' I am baffled by the allegations and do not believe I was 'aggressive.' Nor do I think I violated the city charter.' Lambert explained that a community member had previously approached her at a supermarket and informed her that he submitted a complaint about Cutter. Before the City Hall incident, the mayor said she was advised to speak to CityCounty Insurance Services — claiming she was advised by 'CIS Attorney Ross (Davis)' to pick up her mail and ask the county clerk to scan the letters and send them to council and the city attorney. However, Davis claimed, 'I have read Ms. Lambert's 4/1 email. First, I am not an attorney and never claimed to be. Second, I did not advise her in anyway as she describes. She brought up thecomplaint and I advised to follow whatever City protocols there are for complaints against any employee by a citizen.' In a unanimous vote on April 3, City Council expelled the mayor, citing a violation of the city charter, which states no member of the council shall directly or indirectly attempt to direct a city officer or employee in the performance of their duties. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now One week later, the then-former mayor appeared at an April 10 City Council meeting where she was asked several times by council members to leave, but officials said she refused and hindered the meeting. Members from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office attempted to remove Lambert peacefully, explaining the legal consequences. Officials said she continued to refuse. Oregon Coast safari park owner arrested, 44 guns, 80 grams of meth seized Eventually, Lambert was escorted outside and cited for disorderly conduct before being released, where she was able to return to the meeting and sit in the public seating area. In a , Lincoln County District Attorney Jenna Wallace later announced she would . 'We have never had an elected city official treat staff this way. What may seem like a minor incident is actually a serious legal concern,' Waldport City Council previously said. 'Hostile work environment complaints lead to staff leaving positions, to costly lawsuits against the city, and to a near stop in city operations. In January, each of us, including Mayor Lambert, swore to uphold the Waldport City Charter and the Oregon and United States Constitutions. We take that pledge seriously.' Lambert previously said this is a complicated situation, because community members had written formal complaints to her about the city manager that were labeled confidential. PDX travelers: No Real ID, no problem so far 'I went in to pick it up, and it had already been opened, and it had already been sent to the person that the complaints were about. And that was where I was confused,' she said. 'So, I asked the city clerk to email the council those complaints, and I was told that was not what they were directed to do.' Lambert hired a lawyer, previously telling KOIN 6 News that she had no interest in suing the city she was elected to lead but was prepared to take this issue to court if it's not resolved. 'I'm fighting for my seat. I have to stick with my voters, and I have to keep running, keep fighting for my seat,' Lambert said. 'I guess if it's decided that I can be removed, then I'll have to be reelected.' Tiny opossum settles in at Oregon Zoo after being rescued from wild In response to Mayor Lambert's reinstatement, Waldport City Manager Dann Cutter raised concerns, telling KOIN 6 News this marks a 'defeat for democracy.' 'The mayor is claiming this is a victory for democracy. Sadly, I think it's the exact opposite. It showed that the threat of an expensive lawsuit can be used to silence elected officials from preventing abuse of power and corruption,' Cutter said. The city manager then pointed to an ongoing lawsuit filed in 2023, which names Lambert. The lawsuit was filed by two staffers for the City of Yachats against the City — alleging they experienced discrimination and workplace harassment under several city managers, including Lambert, who was hired as the Yachats city manager in 2022. A spokesperson for the city told KOIN 6 News the city has no comment on the pending litigation. 'Two years ago, Ms. Lambert was named in a lawsuit with the city of Yachats, alleging discrimination and the creation of a hostile environment. Yachats is still fighting that lawsuit. Instead, the Waldport Council attempted to stand up for their staff when the same hostile environment was created here. Technicalities of the law were used to threaten the city with hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars to fight over what boils down to an unlawful direction of city staff by an elected official – the very definition of abuse of power. The Council absolutely acted in the city's best interest then, and bravely, did the same last night – knowing that a small town cannot afford the fight, even when right. So, they put it back in the citizens hands to do the right thing,' Cutter furthered. 'The question is, will they? Will citizens stand up for the staff who work hard to build the city up? Or will they instead support a continuation of the behaviors for which their neighboring city is still paying. Because, after all is said and done, the Mayor never apologized to the employees,' Cutter said. 'She claims she is supporting women's rights – but they are women too who have been subject to harassment and ridicule for daring to stand up against those unlawful actions. Instead, the mayor wants to make this about the City Charter, attempting to hide behind technicalities of process.' 'So, no, this is a defeat for democracy and the protections against abuse by those in power – a theme we are seeing playing out nationally as well,' Cutter concluded. KOIN 6 News has reached out to Mayer Lambert and Waldport City Council President Greg Dunn for comment. This story will be updated if we receive a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Waldport mayor won't face charges after arrest at council meeting
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The former mayor of Waldport will not be prosecuted after having to be in April, which led to her arrest. In a , Lincoln County Disitrct Attorney Jenna Wallace said she would not be pursuing charges against Heide Lambert after the former mayor after she took a seat at the city council meeting and refused to move. Lambert was arrested and cited with second-degree disordely conduct for her actions at the Waldport City Council meeting on April 10. 'Although the city charter appears to allow the removal of the elected mayor through a City Council vote, it is unclear whether this provision in the city charter is constitutional. In reviewing Ms. Lambert's conduct on April 10, 2025 for criminal charges, I do not believe there is sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury that Ms. Lambert had the intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm or recklessly created a risk thereof,' Wallace said in the memo. In response, the City of Waldport canceled their council meeting scheduled for Thursday, citing safety concerns. In a , the city expressed frustation that the DA would not be pursuing charges against Lambert. 'We have been informed by the District Attorney that they will not be able to reliably prosecute charges brought by the local sheriff's office against members of the public for disrupting the meeting, and as such, we feel that the safety and security of the meeting cannot be ensured,' the post said. 'We want to assure everyone, that while not being able to hold a council meeting at this time, the city will still work diligently to accomplished the planned goals and capital projects. We hope to have a safe solution in accordance with public meeting law in the next two weeks and get back to productive council business.' According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, leading up to the April meeting, there had been concern about a disruption from the former mayor after she was removed from her post by the council on April 3. Lambert was removed from office after city staff said she created a hostile work environment, demanding that they follow her direction when under the City Charter, she had no authority over them. 'I realized that I have a constitutional right to assert my seat, that I was an elected official. And so I didn't want the council to believe I vacated,' Lambert told KOIN 6 after the meeting. 'They were starting to say on the website that I had vacated my seat. And that's not true. So I went there to take my seat.' The rule that the council is basing this on states that no member of the council shall directly or indirectly attempt to direct a city officer or employee in the performance of their duties. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dissmissed Waldport mayor removed from city council meeting, cited for disorderly conduct
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Waldport's former mayor Heide Lambert had to be removed from a city council meeting Thursday after she took a seat at the city council meeting and refused to move, authorities said. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, leading up to the meeting, there had been concern about a disruption from the former mayor after she was removed from her post by the council earlier in April. Lambert was removed from office after city staff said she created a hostile work environment, demanding that they follow her direction when under the City Charter, she had no authority over them. Search suspended for Kaylee Birt, missing woman in Harney County In a statement from the Waldport City Council, they shared that the former mayor's actions could be a cause for legal concern. 'We have never had an elected city official treat staff this way. What may seem like a minor incident is actually a serious legal concern. Hostile work environment complaints lead to staff leaving positions, to costly lawsuits against the city, and to a near stop in city operations. In January, each of us, including Mayor Lambert, swore to uphold the Waldport City Charter and the Oregon and United States Constitutions. We take that pledge seriously.' At the meeting Thursday night, authorities said Lambert took a seat at the council's table and made a statement. She was asked several times by council members to leave, but officials said she refused and hindered the meeting. Members from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office attempted to remove Lambert peacefully, explaining the legal consequences. Officials said she continued to refuse. Eventually, Lambert was escorted outside and cited for disorderly conduct before being released, where she was able to return to the meeting and sit in the public seating area. 'We recognize this event has caused concern and strong emotions within our community,' the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. 'Our office does not take such actions lightly. Regardless of a person's status or position, the law applies equally to everyone. When a lawful order is issued and refused, our duty is to uphold the law while maintaining order and safety.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
