Council okays ordinances, expenditures, 2nd Street plan

The Cathlamet Town Council approved the first reading of an ordinance amending the town's zoning laws on Monday, but council members had so many questions that it was suggested they bring in a consultant to handle the process.

In other business at their monthly meeting:

--The council met in an executive session called by Mayor George Wehrfritz to discuss potential litigation;

--The council approved a parking and design plan for the 2nd Street renovation project;

--The council discussed harvesting town timber to help cover the town's match for a federal grant to refurbish town hall;

--The council agreed to pay a bill for a volunteer emergency responder's medical treatment,

--And the council handled other business.

The nine-page ordinance amending the existing zoning ordinance passed for its first reading after a long discussion. A second reading could come in September or in the fall.

The town planning commission has been working for several years to update the zoning ordinance, efforts haven't met council approval. Early this year, the council and planning commission met and agreed on what they called a "quick fix," which was specific amendments for specific portions of the zoning ordinance in place of writing a new ordinance.

Councilmembers posed many questions to planning commission members Jim Reed and Dick Swart about how the changes mesh with the existing ordinance, and they pointed out an error in fence heights.

"Are we at the point where we can get the quick fix," Wehrfritz asked.

"This is the last effort of this group," Swart responded.

He also commented that he had suggested the town contact the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Council of Governments to see what services they could offer regarding land use policy and the zoning ordinance.

In other business:

--The council approved an expenditure of $606 for medical expenses for a Emergency Services ambulance volunteer who was injured last year by a needle during a response. The volunteer was taken to a hospital for blood tests. The bill lagged in going from department to department and wasn't processed in time to be covered by the town's insurance.

It was suggested that the council could ask the Cathlamet Volunteer Firefighters Association to pay so that taxpayers wouldn't have to cover the cost, but Councilmember David Goodroe opposed that idea.

"It's a work related injury," he said. "The firefighters association has nothing to do with this."

It may be that personnel committed errors and didn't act in a timely fashion, he said, but the town should cover the expense and look at procedures to prevent another occurrence.

EMS Department Captain Beau Renfro accepted responsibility for not getting the bill processed in time.

"I have many issues going on," he said. "I need to be more diligent in my volunteerism."

Goodroe moved to pay the bill, and Ruth Doumit seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

The council approved a plan for 2nd Street paving, parking and sidewalks that maintains existing features.

The plan maintains nose-in parking on the north side of the street, as now occurs, and it keeps open the 2nd Street access to the Family Health Clinic. Other plans would have had parallel parking or closed the access.

The project will occur in 2013.

--Mayor Wehrfitz said the council budget committee had discussed how the town would pay its match for the town hall and library renovation. Goodroe, a committee member, said the town should avoid using debt to cover the expense.

Wehrfritz said the committee would meet with the library board and library foundation late in the month to prioritize projects.

Councilmember Wally Wright suggested the town harvest timber from its land on Bradley Mountain to help cover expenses. Goodroe and other councilmembers agreed, and Wehrfritz said he would set up a workshop on timber harvest.

The council passed an ordinance amending the municipal code to create a finance committee; second and final readings of the ordinance will be held in September.

The council also passed first reading of an ordinance formalizing a finance committee and mandating reports.

Finally, the council passed a resolution establishing temporary no parking regulations for August 26, 27 and 28, when the Cathlamet Downhill Corral skateboard events will take place. Parts of streets will be closed to parking each day to accommodate races and events.