Longview council again fails to decide when to start search for permanent city manager

Two motions fail on 3-4 votes; Mayor Spencer Boudreau breaks with majority bloc on one of them

Despite two hours of debate, repetitive public comment and introduction of motions and counter-motions Thursday night, the Longview City Council still could not agree on how soon to start the search for a permanent city manager.

Two motions failed on 3-4 votes.

The first, supported by Keith Young, Kalei LaFave and Erik Halvorson, would have pushed the start of the process until the first council meeting in January. It failed when Mayor Spencer Boudreau opposed it.

It was the first time this year that Boudreau broke with the three other members of the council’s four-member majority bloc. He did not explain his objection.

Halvorson had earlier proposed delaying the process until April

Young and LaFave repeated several times that they want to give Duscha a chance to learn the job and prove himself.

Boudreau joined his regular allies in a 3-4 vote to defeat another motion to start the search process immediately. It was supported by Councilwomen Angie Wean, Ruth Kendall and MaryAlice Wallis.

After that vote, the council took a recess and did not discuss the issue again when it came back into session at about 10 p.m. With a long agenda still ahead, the council members did not appear likely to bring the matter up again Thursday night.

It was the second consecutive meeting at which the council could not agree to a process or timeline to replace interim manager Jim Duscha.

On controversial 4-3 votes March 13, the council ‘s majority bloc fired interim manager Kris Swanson without cause and then immediately appointed Duscha, the city’s former police chief, without reviewing his credentials or fitness for the job.

Duscha is a longtime ally of LaFave. The sudden and non-critical nature of the appointment has critics claiming collusion and cronyism.

The case has created an undisguised tension among the two council factions, with the minority three fearful that the majority wants to make Duscha the permanent city manager.

Duscha is making $177,000 a year as interim manager. The manager is the city’s top executive and is responsible for all administration and operations and makes all hiring and firing decisions. He/she is answerable to the council.

Look for an expanded column Friday or over the weekend.