News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
At their last meeting, the Sisters Park & Recreation District board of directors addressed the fact that board member Andrew Gorayeb has not attended meetings for many months.
"They have been excused absences, according to our by-laws," Board Chair Darren Layne told The Nugget. "As long as a board member informs our board chair that they will not attend a board meeting, it's an excused absence."
Layne said that "Andrew has told us he cannot be at the board meetings due to pending litigation, and at the advice of his attorney."
Gorayeb, in his role as Sisters city manager, was named in a lawsuit filed against the City by food-stand owner Ky Karnecki last December. Mike Morgan, who also serves on the SPRD board, is a cooperating witness in the suit and related a conversation with Gorayeb in which he alleges that Gorayeb called Karnecki "crazy" and said he would "crush" him.
Morgan has asked that the SPRD board request Gorayeb's resignation. Board members are elected to their positions in the district. The board has no authority to remove a board member, but can formally request that a director step down.
"At our last meeting the board voted 3-1 not to ask for Andrew's resignation at this time," Layne told The Nugget.
The majority - Layne, Peggy Tehan and Jeff Campbell - believes "he can still contribute in a meaningful manner," Layne said.
Layne acknowledged that attendance at board meetings is an important part of a board member's role.
"We had that discussion," he said. "Can you be an effective board member and not be present at board meetings? It's not an ideal situation, but we believe at this time, yes, he can still be an effective board member."
Gorayeb still has more than a year to serve on his elected term. Continued service includes committee work and involvement in SPRD projects, Layne said.
The SPRD chair recognized that the status quo should not continue indefinitely.
"We still have to figure out how to resolve this," he said. "It's not an ideal situation, and we can't continue it forever."
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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