The Community Meeting Room at KSQM FM (91.5) was packed last Wednesday evening for a town hall meeting held by some of the 15 elected members of the Clallam County Charter Review Commission.

The first of several planned gatherings, the purpose of the meeting was to receive input from the community.

A Charter Review Commission composed of five representatives from each of the county’s three districts convenes every five years to consider changes to the county’s charter. Clallam is one of just seven counties among the state’s 39 counties to have a charter granting them home rule and allowing them to govern themselves distinct from state law.

The Commission has the challenge of determining by August which issues to place on the November General Election ballot.

Other possible proposed changes can be placed on the ballot in November 2026, but the commissioners’ terms will expire on Dec. 31 of this year.

It was noted that some issues determined to be important to local residents might not require voter approval and could ultimately be decided by Clallam’s three county commissioners.

Of the 77 people in attendance, about a dozen signed up to speak. They were allotted three minutes to express their views or concerns. Opinions expressed related primarily to county coroner and “water steward” positions, but some touched on other issues, such as whether the county has adequate infrastructure for disaster responses.

The town hall was posted for 5:30-7:30 p.m. but the meeting ended shortly before 7 p.m. with attendees having the opportunity to stay and speak one-on-one with Commission members.

In the final minutes of the meeting, some in the audience expressed displeasure that the Commission members who were present did not answer questions or engage in a back-and-forth dialogue with the audience. The meeting agenda stated, “The event is being held to allow the Charter Review Commission to engage with the citizens of Clallam County regarding the Clallam County charter.”

There seemed to be confusion or disagreement over what “engage” meant.

Jim Stoffer, who represents District 1 and chairs the Commission’s Town Hall Outreach Committee, said the first town hall was intended as an opportunity for Commission members to hear directly from constituents and to gather information. He noted that when the Commission convened five years ago, no town halls could be held due to COVID-19.

“We are working this out as we go along,” he explained.

The day after the meeting, Stoffer told the Sequim Gazette that one of the issues that prevented exchanges between the Commission and the audience was that a quorum of the Charter Review Commission was present. Responding to questions would have been equivalent to the Commission taking action, which it could not legally do at that meeting, he said.

In addition to Stoffer, other Commission members who were present included chair Susan Fisch (District 1), Mark Hodgson (District 3), Ron Cameron (District 2), Patti Morris (District 2), Christy Holy (District 3), Ron Richards (District 2) and Jeff Tozzer (District 1).

Stoffer noted that other scheduled town halls might involve more of an exchange between Commission members and the audience. Meetings are open to all Clallam County residents, regardless of which district they live in.

The second town hall was scheduled for 5-7 p.m. yesterday – Tuesday, April 1 – at the Fairview Grange in Port Angeles after the Sequim Gazette went to press.

A third town hall meeting is set for 6-8 p.m. on Monday, April 7 at the Crescent Grange in Joyce, 50724 Highway 112.

Those with comments or questions regarding the Charter Review Commission may contact the clerk of the Charter Review Commission at loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov or 360-417-2256.

The Charter Review Commission meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Board of Commissioners Board Room 160 at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St. The meetings are open to the public. Those attending should use the after-hours entrance on Fourth St. The meetings also can be viewed online.