To the editor:

Three citizens have complained to the city’s Ethics Committee that

Councilman Ron Peltier was rude to them. We don’t have an Anti-Rudeness Committee yet!

We are also told that the ex-city manager said that Ron was a bully.

Ron admits that his questioning of proposals made by the manager or his staff was seldom asked by others on the council. Ron made it clear he was not a rubber stamp for the manager’s decisions, and was not elected to be one.

Ron sent an email to a council member questioning the reason the city manager got a large increase in salary after he had resisted combining the fire department and police departments’ needs for one location and one structure. Ron believes it cost the city millions. The city manager read the email and let Ron know how unhappy he was with him.

I don’t condone rudeness or bullying, nor am I witness to any complaints, but this is a time to reflect on who is ultimately responsible for important decisions. The council can delegate to non-elected committees and managers, but must never give up their duty to govern.

DICK KRUTCH

Bainbridge Island