Editor,

Langley is in desperate need of an ethics committee. Most know of former Mayor Larry Kwarsick who falsified a document and intended to continue as mayor. Council members wanted him to remain in office dismissing the malfeasance (Dec. 18, 2012 council meeting minutes). Perhaps they agreed with the late Paul Schell who was quoted by Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat as saying to the blogger who discovered the falsification, “Shame on you … for starting this. You should stay in your new California home and let us alone” (Seattle Times, Dec. 22, 2012).

The two grant requests for the funicular are further examples of questionable ethics. The Record’s story “Langley council questions grant request for tram project” on April 20, 2011, shows that the community and even the city council were unaware a $400,000 grant request had been submitted for the funicular. Council members were surprised to learn of it reading the paper. They reasonably expected it was for the city council to discuss transport options and make a decision. Kwarsick, then the city planner, submitted the grant request without any city council or public involvement. That grant request was denied.

In October 2013 the city planner Jeff Arango, under Mayor Fred McCarthy, submitted another funicular grant request proposed by and partnered with Schell. The Sept. 23, 2013, council meeting minutes show the motion to submit the grant passed immediately. There are no documented discussions about the funicular or other transport options in any city council meetings that year. The city’s transportation improvement program specifies that the waterfront accessibility improvements can be “funicular or other ADA compliant transportation.” If any discussions occurred by the council about a funicular or other transport options they were private. Did discussions ever occur? There are no documented inputs from the community on transport options.

It is unethical that city leaders decided they should choose the transport option for everyone with these funicular grant requests without city council discussion and public input. Perhaps, the close personal relationships between city leaders and Schell unduly influenced them, clouding their judgment, and making them unable to be open minded.

No wonder so much dissension exists regarding the funicular today. No wonder people believe their inputs are unwanted and not given consideration when provided.

I can see why the city has dragged its feet staffing an ethics committee.

MARELLE SADLER

Langley