Commissioners clash over email, calendar access and liaison duties
From our weekly issue dated October 28, 2009
(From left) Commissioners Dwight Ellis, Sandi Cassanelli and Dave Toler at a recent meeting in the Josephine County Bldg. in Cave Junction. (Photo by Michelle Binker, I.V. News)
Issues regarding liaison assignments and access to calendars seemingly are straining the relationship between Josephine County Commissioners Sandi Cassanelli and Dave Toler during recent weeks.
Cassanelli formally requested access to Toler’s calendar and e-mails from his county account in a document dated Tuesday, Oct. 20. The document was a formal request for a release of public information, similar to those used by journalists or citizens when asking for documents or records.
“I request access to Commissioner Dave Toler’s calendar for each day, or a paper copy of his calendar each day 48 hours in advance,” Cassanelli wrote. “I request access to Commissioner Toler’s e-mails or a record of all Commissioner Toler’s e-mails that were both sent to and from him since 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2009.”
The matter also was brought up by Cassanelli during the Tuesday, Oct. 20 board of county commissioners administrative meeting. It was during the portion of the meeting set aside for matters from commissioners.
Cassanelli said her request was prompted by a constituent coming to the office the previous day and asking about a meeting Toler had scheduled for Oct. 20. She said that she was unable to verify the information by checking Toler’s calendar on the county computer network.
“I noticed Dave had taken my access to his calendar off of his computer,” Cassanelli said.
After that, she said, she went to consult with the county’s legal department, and was informed that the calendar and e-mails are public documents. She then submitted her information requests to the board and for the record.
Toler questioned the rationale behind Cassanelli’s request.
“As a fellow board member, I don’t know why you want to do this,” he said. “Some of the assumptions you make aren’t true. I don’t know if that matters to you or not.”
The Oct. 20 meeting was slated to be with Ron Fox, Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Director; and Alex Miller and David Traeger. The subject listed on Toler’s calendar was the Josephine County Airport. It had originally been set for Wednesday, Oct. 14, but was later rescheduled.
Cassanelli said that as the county board’s designated airports liaison, she should have been kept in the loop.
“You don’t think that I would be interested in knowing what’s going on at that meeting?” she asked Toler.
Toler stated that commission staff told him that Cassanelli had access to his calendar.
“I checked this morning, and I don’t,” Cassanelli said. “I would like access to your e-mails, just like you have access to my e-mails.”
Cassanelli insisted that Toler and Chairman Dwight Ellis both had access to her e-mails. Toler disputed that.
“You have to be factual here,” Toler said. “Some of the insinuations you are making, they’re not true.”
Advertisement:
Toler said he “wasn’t apprised” of the fact that Cassanelli wanted access to his e-mail messages. Cassanelli countered that she had raised the issue in February.
Ellis stated that as far as he knew, Toler did not have access to his e-mails, and added there may be problems with the county’s information technology system.
Cassanelli said the true underlying issue is regarding the liaison assignments.
“You are having meetings behind my back regarding Josephine County airport matters,” she told Toler.
Ellis ended the discussion by suggesting that it be tabled until the board’s Thursday, Oct. 22 meeting with county legal.
During that meeting, Cassanelli stated that she had access to Toler’s calendar, but not his e-mails. Toler reiterated that he still did not have access to Cassanelli or Ellis’ e-mails, and never did.
Legal Counsel Steve Rich advised the board that having Toler’s calendar accessible to everybody would not create a problem with public meeting laws, because the document is static and does not change.
The difficulties between Toler and Cassanelli were hinted at in a Wednesday, Oct. 21 press release. In that release, Toler announced his intentions to seek a second term in office, and lists his accomplishments as commissioner, which include boosting public safety, reopening the county’s libraries, developing the economy and “establishing a working board.”
“I have truly enjoyed working with Commissioner Dwight Ellis,” Toler stated in the release. “I think Dwight and I have provided a promising example of how board members with contrasting political beliefs can put the good of the county ahead of politics as usual.”
There was no mention of Cassanelli in the release.
Advertisement:
