Clackamas County has prevailed through criminal proceedings by the commissioner, trade union tensions

Clackamas County Commissioners got a slop on Thursday at a packed public session.

Members of the public demanded the resignation of a district commissioner who is subject to criminal charges. The district managers contested public employees for ongoing contract negotiations with their largest union.

The board unanimously voted to temporarily suspend the payment for the newly elected Commissioner Melissa Fireside. She was charged with eight crimes

“If she takes a vacation, it should be a vacation without payment because we all five up here in the DAIS,” said Clackama's County Commissioner Martha Schrader, a democrat that voted to suspend Fireside's Pay as the members of the district's republican board.

Related: The Labor conflict of Clackamas County brings with it the risk of public employee strike

The meeting finds the indictment against Fireside, a democrat announced one day after the Ministry of Justice's announcement of the Ministry of Justice, which was charged with severe theft, fake and theft of identity. She has not guilty.

In the meantime, the negotiations with the Clackamas County Employees' Association, which represents more than 1,000 employees, have been cleaned. The union has accused the district of using “Mobbing tactics” in the negotiations, especially after the monthly insurance premiums of the members rose by more than 200 US dollars than they did not pay by the end of the year. The district says it negotiated fairly.

Alex Gonzalez, the president of the union, said on Wednesday that the members signed strike promises.

“We do our best to avoid a potential strike that could influence the services in Clackamas County, but our members continue to feel taken by these measures,” Gonzalez told the Commissioner on Thursday.

Although the two editions were not connected, they led to a lengthy series of passionate public comments that signaled distrust of the district managers. The meeting could have a difficult way for the newly elected chairman of the district, Craig Roberts. He took part in a conference in Washington DC and was not at the meeting on Thursday.

Criminal charges of the commissioners

During the meeting, several people called for Fireside to step down and said that the allegations harm the public with the board of directors. Among them was Clackama's County Commissioner Ben West, a Republican who criticized Fireside.

“She has now endangered the trust of this board with the public,” said West, who made the application for suspension of Fireside payment, while the commissioner's vacation status is examined by the district's legal advisor.

“I am asking quickly and immediately after their formal resignation,” said West. “Now.”

Related: The Commissioner of Clackama County was charged with 8 crimes

Fireside's lawyer declined to comment on Thursday.

Some people who took part in the session said that the board was supposed to replace Fireside with Mark Shull, a former commissioner who had lost his re -election offer for Fireside in November. A Republican, Shull, made headlines when colleagues in the Clackamas County Board unanimously censored his political term and demanded his resignation A number of Islamophobic contributions that he made on Facebook. He confronted further counter -reactions for Comparison of vaccine documents with Jim Crow law.

The residents of the meeting on Thursday compared the situation with what they see as corruption and waste from the Trump administration and even call Hunter Bidens laptop.

“This situation stinks worse than a warehouse full of hardness of marijuana,” said Stephen Hunter, a resident of Wilsonville.

Related: The Clackamas County Commission votes back for one of its members to step back

They accused the commissioners – without providing evidence – about the examination of the election. A person in the audience kept a sign with the inscription “Who knew what and when?”.

“We didn't know much,” said Commissioner Paul Savas, a Republican. “In fact, I learned a lot yesterday. And I think it is fair to say that most probably had no idea about this indictment in this DAIS today. I had no idea.”

Fireside is accused of having accessed a computer and stolen by Arthur Wayne Petrone. According to court records, the alleged crimes occurred between September 16, 2024 and January 13, 2025. The county announced on Thursday that it would say goodbye.

Schrader described the allegations as serious.

“We have to go through the process,” said Schrader. “Things seem bad. We will find out how the process progresses whether Commissioner Fireside is guilty or innocent. “

Union negotiations

Between the comments to Fireside, the members of the district's largest union spoke with commissioners about their frustrations about contract negotiations.

The conflict mainly began at the end of December when the district union members informed that it had to increase the health insurance premiums, since a contract contract was not achieved before the end of the year. The union said this only gave the members of their salary checks two days before the district with the docking of more than $ 200 per month.

Related: The Commissioner of Clackamas County, Mark Shull

Union members said on Thursday that they had to take out loans and received the second job for the increased premiums. A large group of them packed in the meeting, wore matching blue and red shirts and cheered when the members spoke to the board.

“I just have the feeling that they didn't listen to,” said Natalie Luttmer, an employee of the district who brought their concerns to the commissioners seven times.

“Make this a priority,” said Luttmer. “These things have to be repaired now.”

Schrader found that the district intends to reimburse the health payments employees when achieving the contract.

“I hope that everything will be solved soon and that the valuable employees here in this district have the feeling of being treated fairly and being back and continuing to do their good work,” said Schrader.

The county and the union each submitted their final offers and planned a mediation for March 18.