Canfield & Company: Troutdale's new city councilor; East Multnomah County homeless crisis; Shake-up at West Columbia Gorge Chamber

Mayor Kight To Chamber, City Council: Fuhgaddaboudit!

The City of Troutdale gets an ex-officio Executive Board seat at the West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce. That position has been held by Troutdale Mayor Jim Kight.

The Chamber recently requested that the city replace Mayor Kight on the Executive Board and appoint one of the members of the city's Economic Development subcommittee to the ex-officio seat.

Fast forward to the August 28, 2012 Troutdale City Council Meeting.  Instead of granting the Chamber's request, Mayor Kight told the City Council he was going to re-appoint himself to the ex-officio seat on the Chamber's Executive Board. You can listen to the relevant part of that city council meeting here.

According to both the city charter and city statutes, the Mayor has the power to appoint the City Council member of his choice, including himself, to non-city committees.

You don't have to read between any lines to figure out that the Chamber no longer wanted Mayor Kight on its Executive Board.  It's seems, however, they're stuck with him for a while. Badabing, Badaboom.

West Columbia Gorge Chamber Director: Who's Next?

Diane McKeel's election to the Multnomah County Commission means someone will be taking her place as Executive Director of the West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce. I've talked to several people involved with the Chamber. Based on what I've heard, potential candidates for the position include several current Chamber board members as well as two or three external, but well known candidates.

There is also talk of combining the Executive Director position with the newly funded Economic Development Director position. This makes sense to me. Neither position really pays enough for a quality new hire. One person could easily do both jobs. A combined position and higher salary would mean the Chamber could attract a talented replacement for McKeel, whose current salary is only $38-42k per year. That's not enough money to attract the kind of economic rainmaker this area sorely needs.

Troutdale and the other government entities sharing in the cost of the new Economic Development Director position should sit down with the Chamber and make a merger of the two positions a reality.