To the Editor:

Mark Webb, executive director of Blue Mountains Forest Partners, local collaborative, has taken on the role of “executive dictator” of the group. During the July monthly meeting when several local citizens stated their intentions to join BMFP, Webb responded with an empathetic, “No!” The potential members have met the requirements as laid out in the bylaws and have signed a letter of commitment, meeting the same required criteria as the current members of the Blue Mountains forest collaborative. Can this nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission “Blue Mountain Forest Partners is a diverse group of stakeholders who work together to create and implement a shared vision to improve the resilience and well-being of forests and communities in the Blue Mountains” discriminate because Mr. Webb says “no”? It cannot be that some of the those aspiring members once were elected to the now-nullified Grant County Public Forest Commission. In the recent past, there were four members of the BMFP that held elected positions on the Grant County Public Forest Commission, so that isn’t the reason. Something is fishy with Webb. What is he trying to hide? Could there be a discrimination suit around the bend if he continues to deny Grant County citizens from joining the BMFP?

Julie Perkins

Dayville