By Kate Reardon
Herald Writer
STANWOOD — Two Stanwood city council members allege they were harassed over the phone by an opponent of the 330-acre Cedarhome annexation proposal, adding a new twist to a heated debate over whether the city should annex an area northeast of town.
Council members Shelley Klasse and Cheryl Baker reported to police that Laura Chappel overstepped her boundaries when she called them at home about the annexation issue.
Opponents are worried the Cedarhome annexation and development would lead to more traffic, crowded classrooms and the demise of the rural character of this city of about 4,000.
Chappel, wife of council member Andy Chappel, disputes claims that the phone calls she made to council members were harassing. She said the women were trying to ruin her credibility.
"Although I don’t remember exactly what I said, I know I didn’t threaten them, curse at them, yell at them or harass them," Chappel said in an e-mail explaining her phone calls. "My tone of voice may have been a little strained, but that was only because they had both hung up on me. I didn’t know the tone of my voice may be a possible criminal offense."
Police chief Tom Davis has since closed the investigation. Klasse and Baker did not seek anti-harassment orders to prohibit Chappel from contacting them, but did ask that she no longer call them at home.
Klasse said the complaint was "a private matter between me and Mrs. Chappel."
"She had been asked at the council meeting not to call us at home, and then she called," Klasse said. "I needed to make it clear to her that the home is my place. She is more than welcome to come to city council meetings."
Klasse and Baker reported the questionable phone calls came after a confrontation by Chappel following a council meeting. Klasse told police she felt "personally threatened" by Chappel and was worried about another confrontation.
On Tuesday, Klasse said she had not received any phone calls at home from Chappel since the police report.
Chappel said she plans to keep fighting the annexation, but will refrain from calling the council members at home. "If they would give me five minutes of their time, I could point out 50 flaws," she added.
She has concerns over the validity of signatures on the annexation petition. She is also concerned that Mayor Matthew McCune owns property in the area.
Chappel asked McCune to resign because of it, and the mayor has voluntarily stepped aside during discussions regarding the annexation.
And she believes the city council voted too quickly last fall when it approved the annexation after a public hearing at which most citizens lambasted the proposal.
The council rejected annexing the Cedarhome area twice before. But the council approved the annexation in late 2001. The annexation area includes 188 residents but could potentially grow to about 2,000.
The issue now faces a ruling by the Snohomish County Boundary Review Board, which will take public testimony at 6 p.m. March 12 in the Ginni Stevens Meeting Room at 3000 Rockefeller Ave. in Everett. The board is scheduled make a decision on March 27.
You can call Herald Writer Kate Reardon at 425-339-3455
or send e-mail to reardon@heraldnet.com.
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