I have reviewed a number of documents in the city of Kittitas recently and I must say there are a number of troubling issues that have come to light. First it was mentioned more than once in here but this is troubling for the city of Kittitas. A city employee recieved a pay raise without council approval as per the official minutes of the city of Kittitas. Then again thi
s last year the same employee recieved another pay raise without council approval. A contract with the Union specifically stated it did not represent 3 specific positions. However the Union stated a salary they felt a position should recieve and that individual recieved the raise. Again no council approval no contract negotiations to add the individual to the union just a mayor abusing his powers in my opinion. Then the same position recieved an additional raise stating it was in the union contract but again this position under the contract the city was operating under with the union did not cover that position.
Then we have a city employee who has failed to read water meters at the same time each month and then failed to read meters at all the month of December. How can the citizens trust their water bills will be accurate when being billed on a monthly basis. Also during the election many city employees violated campaign laws by campaigning on city time and then shortly after the election one of the current mayors biggest supporters filed a complaint with the Union against the Mayor who they supported in the election.
Over the last year a city employee filed a false police report and took a council member to court for harrassment and was told by the judge the council member did nothing wrong. It is amazing that the city has a couple of employees that have ruined at least my trust in the city. Mr. Camarata is a stand up citizen while I didn't support him in the election he has my support considering he is slowly attacking the problems in this city. I only hope that he continues to do what is needed and gets these employees in line or out the door.