In testimony before the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), Villages at Mt.
Hood Chair George Wilson insisted the Mountain community was being
ignored, and that he was considering other ways to attain representation for
local residents.

“The disconnect between the BCC and village residents continues,” Wilson told
The Mountain Times. “The BCC only has interest in our villages when there is
timber to harvest to raise funds for Oregon City, Milwaukie and Wilsonville
projects. The BCC does not care about our villages, or our residents.”

According to Wilson, the BCC public meeting held Nov. 23 in Oregon City
underlined the disconnect when it determined – once again – to alter the
county codes to remove all power previously held by the Villages board of
directors.

Wilson maintains that the BCC’s decision to alter the Villages bylaws is
directed at him, despite Commissioner Martha Schrader saying it was “not
personal or political.”

“This is personal,” Wilson said, addressing the BCC. “I have been vilified and
defamed by this board. Not one (Villages) issue has been addressed by the
BCC. You have not listened. I know what I say here will be ignored. I have
talked to a law firm about a defamation suit (against the BCC). I am not going
away.”

BCC Chair John Ludlow, having been voted out of the chair position in the
Nov. 8 election, responded to Wilson admitting it was threats like these that
precipitated the changes (in the bylaws).

“Spewing stuff like that, I’ve heard it before,” Ludlow said. “And you can take
that to your attorney.”

“I don’t need your permission,” Wilson said, exhausting his time allotment.
The BCC concluded that by amending the county code, it could now remove
any board member or dissolve the board entirely when it decided to do so, or,
more precisely, whenever it feels it to be in the best interests of the
community.

With Commissioner Paul Savas as the only dissenting vote, the motion carried
by a solid 4-1 vote.

“What is the best interests of the Villages or Hamlets?” Savas asked. “How will
we know? It is being perceived that we are being heavy handed. These
(changes in bylaws) are nuclear. It’s a big hammer. It will discourage public
involvement.”

Savas’ concerns fell on deaf ears.

Frustrated with the BCC’s position regarding the Mountain community, Wilson,
besides deciding to pursue personal legal action, has turned his attention to
alternatives, including:

• Begin educating residents of the pros and cons of incorporation;
• Exploring a class action lawsuit against the unlawful invalidation and
handling of the December 2015 Town Hall elections;
• Campaign hard to ensure misguided and misdirected commissioners
John Ludlow and Jim Bernard are not reelected to the BCC; and
• Forming special districts for particular projects.