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By Laura Pierce Chronicle Correspondent An item aimed at resolving con flicts achieved exactly the opposite effect at Tuesday’s Napavine City Council meeting. During that meeting, two city staffers walked out and the council locked itself into a tie vote, requir ing the mayor to cast her vote and break the tie. But when all was said and done, the council — with two members opposing — approved having a Chehalis firm provide conflict-reso lution services for the city. DURING THE proceedings, Deputy City Clerk Christy McNelly and City Clerk LaVerne Haslett got up,and left, and two councilors re quested the city consider other firms to do the work. Keeping with regular city prac tice, the meeting was taped, with the tape providing the basis for this re port. Mayor Ruby Guido brought up the issue for discussion by present ing councilors with a copy of a work contract from Turning Points, a firm operated by Chehalis resident Vir ginia Brockman. Among other things, the business provides con flict-resolution services to clients. The cost to the city would be $500 plus $75 in expenses. COUNCILOR PAT Stafford asked why other conflict-resolution services she had suggested in the past were passed over in favor of Turning Points. Stafford mentioned the companies she suggested charged $100 fees, and compared those to the higher Turning Points fee. Guido said she believed the Turn ing Points staff was more highly trained and that additionally, the firm would provide a neutral area for the work. Councilor Ginger Zifka also had concerns, mentioning Brockman had been affiliated with the city in the past. ACCORDING TO city staffers, Brockman has worked for the city in the past as a grant writer and, most recently, filling in when Haslett and MecNelly each were placed on month-long administrative leaves in March. Reasons for the forced leave-tak ings have remained confidential and have stirred considerable controver sy in this small community. “I think for this particular situa tion, it might not be a good idea,” Zifka said. THE PROPOSAL also took some heat, from, an audience mem ber. Rob McNelly, husband of Christy McNelly, asked if Brock man was a friend of Guido’s. “Virginia’s not a close friend of mine,” Guido asserted firmly. “I do take a little exception to that line of questioning.” Stafford also pressed her argu ment over the contract. “IT would like to look into other consultants who do this. Four hun dred dollars is $400,” she said, cit ing the difference between fees. ‘That’s what we’re supposed to be here for.” Eventually, the matter came down to council action. Stafford made a motion stating the council should not go with the firm at this time and to receive bids from other consul tants. Zifka seconded the motion. COUNCILOR Larry Hewitt said he liked the idea of conflict resolu tion. But he also wondered if getting multiple proposals in a consistent format would present time delays for the city. Guido affirmed time was a critical element, owing to upcoming staff vacations. After procedural discussion by the council over the negative wording of Stafford’s motion, Stafford with drew it. Hewitt then made a motion to ac cept the proposed contract. Councilor Jim Carroll seconded the motion. THE FOUR-MEMBER council voted — fifth member Patt Ander son was absent — and councilors were deadlocked, with Hewitt and Carroll voting for the contract and Stafford and Zifka voting against it. While City Attorney Dana Williams checked regulations to de termine if Guido could break the tie, discussion continued. While nothing was specifically mentioned about, the controversy surrounding the two clerks, Rob McNelly stressed to councilors the importance of including all affected people in the conflict-resolution ses sions. “NOT JUST TWO — all,” he said of affected parties. After more discussion, Christy McNelly, apparently upset, got up and walked out. Haslett followed. “You guys can run your own meeting,” she said. FOLLOWING AN outburst from Rob McNelly, the meeting continued without council comment on the clerks’ departures. Eventually, Williams ascertained that Guido was empowered to break the tie. Guido voted in favor of the con tract. During the meeting, the council learned part of the conflict-resolu tion services will include the consul tant interviewing city employees, mayor and council representatives. Guido, in response to a question from Zifka, affirmed the meetings would be closed to the public. Interviews begin next week.
Newspaper Details
Centralia Chronicle
Centralia, Washington, US
Fri, Jul 15, 1994
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Penny P.
USA 20 Aug 2026
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