Tagged with 'city manager'

City Manager Says Town Square Sale A Sign That Condos Will Sell Again

City Manager Says Town Square Sale A Sign That Condos Will Sell Again

by Ralph Nichols Saying this is “something we’ve been expecting for quite a long time,” Burien City Manager Mike Martin said Thursday (Oct. 28) called a pending trustee’s sale... [Read more]

Burien City Manager Mike Martin Granted Deferred Prosecution In DUI Charge

Burien City Manager Mike Martin Granted Deferred Prosecution In DUI Charge

by Ralph Nichols Burien City Manager Mike Martin on Tuesday (June 23rd) was granted a deferred prosecution (download court doc as a PDF here) on a DUI charge (driving under the influence) by King County... [Read more]

BREAKING: Mike Martin Enters “Not Guilty” Plea To DUI

BREAKING: Mike Martin Enters “Not Guilty” Plea To DUI

by Ralph Nichols

Burien City Manager Mike Martin entered a plea of “Not Guilty” on Friday (May 15th) to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol stemming from a minor traffic accident on April 19th. Martin appeared before King County District Court Judge Eileen Kato, who scheduled a pretrial hearing for June 23rd.

Martin, 55, refused to perform field sobriety tests or take a Breathalyzer test when he was arrested following the one-car accident in Burien. As a result, his driver’s license was suspended, as required by state law, when formal DUI charges were filed on May 6th.

On Monday (May 11th), the Burien City Council approved an amended contract for Martin on a 5-1 vote, which imposes strict “alcohol-related conditions” with which he must “comply fully” to retain his position as city manager.

In agreeing to the addition of alcohol-related conditions to his contract, Martin denied committing “any wrongful or criminal act,” but acknowledged “that the facts and circumstances of his arrest may constitute ‘cause’ to terminate his employment under the Original Agreement.”

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

OPINION: What Mike Martin Should Have Said About His DUI

OPINION: What Mike Martin Should Have Said About His DUI

An Editorial by Jim Branson

Imagine how quickly and simply this fiasco might have been solved if Mike Martin had said the following…

City Keeps Mike Martin On, Requires Amended Contract

City Keeps Mike Martin On, Requires Amended Contract

by Ralph Nichols

The Burien City Council imposed on Monday (May 11th) strict “alcohol-related conditions” with which City Manager Mike Martin must “comply fully” if he is to retain that position. Martin is scheduled to be arraigned in King County District Court Friday on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The conditions are included in an amendment to Martin’s contract (download and view PDF here), which was approved without discussion with a 6-1 vote by city lawmakers. Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak, who publicly called for Martin’s ouster following his arrest for allegedly driving under the influence, cast the dissenting vote. She also cast the lone vote against Martin when the council hired him as city manager in January 2007.

Here’s a portion of the amended contract…

City Manager Mike Martin Formally Charged With DUI

City Manager Mike Martin Formally Charged With DUI

According to The Seattle P-I, Burien City Manager Mike Martin was formally charged with drunk driving Wednesday (May 6th), based on his arrest on Sunday, April 19th.

As we reported then, Martin, 55, allegedly crashed his car into a ceramic planter in the 12600 block of 14th Ave South.

Apparently Martin was found outside his car, “leaning forward and swaying side to side,” according to King County Sheriff’s records. His breath allegedly smelled strongly of alcohol, his eyes were bloodshot, his speech slurred and he admitted to drinking a couple glasses of wine and two beers…

Burien City Manager Mike Martin Arrested For DUI

Burien City Manager Mike Martin Arrested For DUI

According to The Seattle Times, Burien City Manager Mike Martin was arrested for a DUI Sunday night (April 19th) after his vehicle left the road and struck a ceramic pot in a yard in the 12600 block of 14th Avenue South in Burien (Google street view below).

Apparently Martin was found outside his car, “leaning forward and swaying side to side,” according to King County Sheriff’s records. His breath allegedly smelled strongly of alcohol, his speech was slurred and he admitted to drinking a couple glasses of wine and two beers.

The article goes on to say that Martin refused to perform both field sobriety tests and Breathalyzer tests, and that he was arrested. Under Washington state law, refusing to take a breath test results in automatic suspension of a driver’s license for at least one year. Martin may challenge the suspension or seek approval for an alcohol-ignition device on his car.

According to the Times, this isn’t Martin’s first run-in with the law – he apparently previously resigned as Chief Administrative Officer for the city of Kent after a 2005 hit-and-run incident.

Martin has been city manager since November 2006, and his yearly salary is $135,180.

We’re working on getting comments from both Martin and other city officials, but the Times goes on to quote Mayor Joan McGilton as saying that his arrest will be discussed at the next city council meeting on Monday night, April 28th, which we will cover.

Read the full story here.


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