What the Villages of Mt. Hood board of directors meeting lacked in decisions,
it made up for in questions.

The July 7 meeting was highlighted by a lively discussion regarding the
appointment – or not – of an interim director to replace Nancy Dougherty who
resigned from the board on July 3.

Although not required to do so, the board decided to continue the tradition of
appointing an interim member who would serve until an election was held at
the Nov. 21 Town Hall Meeting.

On that, everyone agreed.

How to proceed became a more complicated process.

One possibility was to appoint someone on the spot.

Another was to give the community sufficient notice and to take applications
prior to an interim appointment.

Sufficient notice became an issue when it was determined that the Board of
County Commissioners would have to approve the applicants, and, as county
liaison Christine Roth pointed out, the county board’s August schedule for
meetings is historically light and unpredictable.

George Wilson, who ran unsuccessfully for a board seat in the last election,
offered a solution.

“I already applied (for Dougherty’s interim replacement),” Wilson told the
board. “The BCC has already approved me. I’d be more than happy to serve.”
Director Brigette Romeo suggested the board appoint Wilson, but the idea did
not gain traction.

Instead, the board opted for tradition and worked on the schedule for taking
applications for the interim post.

At the suggestion of director Rick Applegate, the board decided to hold a
special meeting Aug. 13 to elect the interim member. The motion passed on a
6-2 vote, with directors Judith Norval and Shirley Dueber casting the
dissenting votes.

After the meeting – and much give and take over scheduling and allowing
opportunity for applicants as well as proper notice – Roth issued an e-mail
announcement that the deadline for applicants to the interim slot was Aug.
27.

In new business chair Bob Reeves opened the discussion regarding the June
work session of the board in which it heard Dave Lythgoe’s proposal that the
Mount Hood Corridor Community Planning Organization join up with the
Villages.

Reeves indicated he had attended the corridor’s July meeting in which the
CPO had elected interim officers pending its September election of permanent
officers.

The discussion bounced back and forth with the board weighing many options,
including: (1) the CPO should make its own decision; (2) the Villages should
invite the CPO’s chair Roy Bellows to the Villages next meeting; (3) it might
be premature to address the issue since there is a CPO election in September;
(4) the Villages should hear from the CPO about its interest and to learn of the
CPO’s goals.

Reeves made it clear this was not a “hostile takeover” by the Villages and that
the board would set up a meeting between the two entities.

In other business, the board:
— Announced a raffle to be held Aug. 29 at the Huckleberry Breakfast as a
fundraiser for the Mountain Express Line with the prize a Sept. 18 trip to the
coast and the contact is director Judith Norval;
— Director Doug Saldivar asked a communication committee and Web site be
considered at the next work session and it was agreed on by the board;
— Sandra Palmer asked for support of her efforts to provide tourism
information at her book store and gallery and it appeared the board was
receptive and sensitive to all she had done; and
— Director Pat Sharp proposed the board – in an effort to give more flexibility
to decision making – work sessions also include a business meeting, with the
board in agreement and Reeves indicated it would be considered on next
month’s agenda.
The Aug. 4 Board of Directors Meeting, from 4p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hoodland
Fire District Meeting Room, includes the following agenda items:
— Unfinished business: Web page; Mountain Times communications;
workshop change to regular meeting;
— New business: Wy’east Information Center; timeline and process for new
director appointment.