An ad hoc committee of the Clatsop Community College Board looked into a private meeting involving board members.

An ad hoc committee appointed by the Clatsop Community College Board found that a private meeting between three board members, former college president Chris Breitmeyer and former state Sen. Betsy Johnson in May was not a violation of board policy.

Board member Tim Lyman submitted a complaint about the meeting, which was held to discuss fundraising to remodel the college’s maritime building. Ed Johnson, the college board chairman, and board members Jody Stahancyk and Mitra Vazeen attended the meeting at Stahancyk’s Gearhart home.

Although the three board members present at the meeting did not constitute a quorum, Lyman argued that the meeting was a violation of the board’s policy regulating communications among board members. Representatives of the college’s chapter of the Oregon School Employees Association also wrote a letter to the college board noting their concerns.

To investigate the complaint, the board voted to appoint an ad hoc committee composed of board members Sheila Roley, Ashley Flukinger and Lloyd Mueller.

At a board meeting in Seaside on Sept. 12, the committee reported that they found the private meeting was concerning, but not sanctionable under board policy. Mueller emphasized the importance of preserving the image of proper board procedure and maintaining communication among board members.

“This was a rogue effort, because I didn’t know about it,” he said. “Tim didn’t know about it, none of us knew about this. Despite everything I’ve tried to do to rationalize it, I couldn’t figure out the reason for it, meaning I can’t figure out why this meeting occurred.”

The committee recommended that the board undergo ethics training to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

“If I was going to characterize this iteration of the board with one word, it would be ‘sloppy,’ when it comes to policy and procedure,” Lyman said. “I don’t think there’s any ill intent here. I just think there’s sloppiness, and I’m just tired of this fast and loose with the law that we have to operate under.”

Stahancyk, who previously said that she did not consider the topics discussed to be college board business, again defended her participation at the meeting, arguing that she should be able to meet with people without facing assumptions of impropriety.

“There are people among us who want to create problems and want to cause problems, and they use this sort of thing, in my opinion, to make it so that people who serve on committees are giving up too much of their personal rights,” she said. “I don’t mind declaring what I own. I don’t mind declaring how I feel, whatever it is, but I still have the right to congregate with the people I enjoy.”