MEA Board delays again

MAT-SU -- In a Matanuska Electric Association meeting held Feb. 20, the board of directors voted 3-2 to delay the decision of what should be done about campaign disclosure violations of board member Linda Shattuck, who was elected to the board last year.

Board members Wes Pollock, Jim Hermon and Mae Tischer supported the decision to delay discussion of the violations after the board received a packet of information from MEA's chief corporate counsel, Stephen Ellis.

Shattuck was recently ordered by Palmer Superior Court Judge Beverly Cutler to give a deposition in the Waterman vs. MEA case in which she is listed as a defendant. In the deposition, Shattuck admitted to not keeping an individual bank account, not maintaining records of those who contributed to her campaign, and not keeping a list of contributors who donated less than $100.

Ellis suggested at the meeting that the board adjourn so they could study the material he had put together regarding Shattuck's campaign disclosure violations. He added that he would prefer to decide the matter with a full board present.

Board member Aaron Downing, who was seated to the board Dec. 10, submitted a letter of resignation to MEA last week. The letter, dated Feb. 16, did not list a reason for Downing's resignation. Downing was not at home Friday, and residents at his address were unsure when he would return.

"There is a vacancy on the board with the resignation of Mr. Downing that we didn't anticipate and I would like to have a full board," Ellis said.

As the motion was seconded, board president Bill Folsom recognized board member Lois Lester, who objected to the move, saying it was nothing more than a delaying tactic. She also said seating a new board member while still grappling with Shattuck's violations could result in confusion for the new member.

Shattuck said she, too, disagreed with the move.

"This goes beyond what is sensible, we can't address board issues because we're consumed with this," Shattuck said.

Mae Tischer asked to see the packet, saying she wanted a peek so that they could

decide whether to adjourn

or not.

The packets were handed out and the board members scanned it, after which the president, William Folsom, said he saw no reason not to adjourn study it before the March meeting.

Tischer, who ultimately voted to delay the decision, said she was torn between delaying and voting.

"Mrs. Shattuck has been an asset to the board and

deserves consideration,"

Tischer said.