EVERETT — Roads, sewers, water lines.

The late Bill Moore spent his three terms as mayor focused on important infrastructure upgrades that make a city run like a well-cared-for machine.

When people balked at the Navy coming to town, Moore saw the potential and pushed. He also got behi

nd what’s become a highly respected paramedic program.

Now some in the community would like to honor him by naming the former City Hall building the William E. Moore Historic City Hall.

The idea has hit one gigantic snag.

The nonprofit group Historic Everett has asked the city to reject the proposal because they say it violates Everett policy, according to a Sept. 14 letter.

City staff have postponed a public hearing on the proposal while they regroup.

City attorneys are examining the policy to see if they can set right “what was probably an unintended consequence” of the original policy, city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said.

She’s referring to a policy that spells out how the city should deal with various requests to name city buildings, streets and the like.

The policy strongly discourages changing names that have been in common usage for decades. Name changes for public buildings and other man-made structures should only be approved “when they do not violate historical or common usage names.” The policy specifically prohibits renaming landmarks listed on historical registries.

The intent of the original policy was to discourage renaming buildings with a specific name, such as the Van Valey House or the Culmback Building, not those that have generic designations such as a city hall, Reardon said.

The building in question is known as Everett City Hall, 3002 Wetmore Ave. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places.

Practically, it no longer serves as a city hall. The mayor and the rest of the city administration are located across the street in the modern Wall Street Building. The former city hall is used today by the Everett Police Department, and it’s also where the City Council holds public meetings.

Historic Everett, which has around 200 members, takes its responsibility to protect local history seriously, Historic Everett president Valerie Steel said. City leaders should follow the policy that’s already in place. This is not a personal slight against the former mayor, she said.

In their view, the policy is clear. The city should consider naming something else after the former mayor, she said.

One member suggested the Wall Street Building might be a better choice for Bill Moore’s name.

“We are absolutely not anti-Moore,” she said. “The proposal didn’t get aligned with this policy.”

Nearly 30 people signed the original proposal in support of renaming City Hall; most of them are people who worked with or for Moore.

“Bill Moore did an awful lot for the community,” said Reid Shockey, a former city community development director. “He rebuilt a lot of sewers, water and roads.”

Moore was a businessman and a loving father who raised three children with his wife, Donna.

The youngest of his children, Jeff Moore, now serves as an Everett city councilman. Jeff Moore didn’t know about the proposal to honor his father until late in the process. He said he plans to recuse himself if the matter lands in front of the council.

The elder Moore served in a World War II tank division in the Battle of the Bulge. Before entering local politics, he was a businessman who owned a furniture store.

In 1969, he began his career with the Everett City Council, eventually becoming the council’s first president. He served the first of his three terms as mayor beginning in 1977. He died after his retirement in 1997 at age 76.

Shockey said he understands the need for the proposal to go through a thorough vetting.

He doesn’t think anyone has any ill feelings for Moore.

He added that he’s certain the issue can be settled.

“We will push that City Hall be named for him,” he said. “It truly is a reflection of who he was and where he worked and what he did.”

Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com.

More info

You can find more information about the proposal to rename Everett’s City Hall, and read letters for and against, at HeraldNet.com.