12/16/1981 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e importantly, the economy of Lane County turned sour. As a bankruptcy attorney, I defend debtors and business people with cash flow problems. My bankruptcy business increased tenfold. liMy priorities in life are my family, my business, and my civic responsibilities. While I have some control over the first and last, I have no control over most aspects of my business, as these are controlled by the courts, not me. I would often be scheduled for court appearances that conflicted with council activities. It would not be unusual for me to have to appear in court outside of Lane County, and I have even had the court schedule me for Portland and Roseburg, or Eugene and Seattle, at the same time. liAs an attorney and a councilor, I have different civic duties and the two sometimes conflict with each other. Then last year, my law partner gave me short notice that he was going abroad and when he returned would be selling real estate. I then had to decide if I was going to lay off half of our staff or work harder. I decided to work harder. "I do not mean the above to be an excuse nor an apology for what I have done or not done. My problem isn't really different from any other councilor's. Many people do not realize that a position on the council has become almost a full-time commitment, but without pay. We who work cannot devote full time to the council. liThe basic issue, then, becomes how to resolve the conflict between a 20-30 hour work schedule per week and a council of citizens serving without pay. How are e councilors to serve eight years in a non-paying job without suffering from heart attacks and council burnout? Are we going to have a council of only one-term members? II It is not enough for voters to send good people to the council; we must be ab le to keep them here as well. The present council system not only weeds out the weak, it weeds out everybody. The decision of Jack Del ay two years ago and recently that of Gretchen Miller not to serve more than one term was a great loss to the council. liThe voluntary citizen council may bean its deathbed. My sources tell me that four of the present council members will not be around after this term. Two of us will not be around even that long. I have made no secret of my wish to res i gn as soon as the voters of my ward can select a rep 1 acement. If I resign before the next election, the council would make that selection and the voters in the Bethel Ward don't want that. liThe council might consider delegating more power to neighborhood groups and to other committees. One of the best committees we presently have is the Planning Commission, on which no councilor sits. II It strikes me as ironic that one of the 1 ast papers in the country to call for President Nixon's resignation should be so quick to call for mine. I see no reason why any of us should be subjected to public abuse and threats by this sort of newspaper. A City Councilor walks a path strewn with enough difficulties; he or she should not have to worry about the yellow poison of vipers as well. I e MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 16, 1981 Page 5