Editor June 21, 2024: Please read our update to this article with response from city: Bridgeport Public Records Transparency: Addressing City Officials’ Failures and Legal Repercussions

By OLIVER Quillstone

In the delightfully dysfunctional world of Bridgeport, Public Works Director Stuart “Deceptive” Dezellem has taken deception to new heights, misleading both the public and the city council. Dezellem tells one thing to citizens and, when called out, attempts to cover himself by telling white lies and misdirecting the city council. At a recent meeting, his latest fabrication involved a non-existent fence permit regulation, showcasing his knack for inventing rules and enforcing them with the conviction of a seasoned storyteller, all while conveniently omitting his previous lies.

In a recent email exchange, Dezellem declared, “Fence construction or repairs require a permit inside the City limits of Bridgeport.” Unfortunately for Dezellem, the Bridgeport Municipal Code (BMC) only mandates such permits if the installation occurs within the city right-of-way. Clearly, Dezellem’s imagination knows no bounds, but his knowledge of municipal code leaves much to be desired.

Meanwhile, the Bridgeport City Council is engaging in its own brand of subterfuge. They are months behind in publishing meeting minutes, a blatant violation of Washington State’s Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30). This act is designed to promote transparency by requiring timely publication of meeting details. However, Bridgeport’s council seems to think transparency is an optional extra.

The latest act in this farce was a special meeting held on June 18, 2024, without any public notice. This meeting was sneakily rescheduled from June 19 due to a holiday, but the lack of any announcement left residents in the dark. There were no notices in local newspapers or on the city’s Facebook page. This is a clear violation of RCW 42.30.080, which mandates that special meetings be announced at least 24 hours in advance. Yet, Bridgeport’s council continues to act like rules are mere suggestions.

Back to Dezellem, the maestro of municipal myths. He insists that fences must allow for vehicle access to meet off-street parking requirements. His assertions are as imaginative as they are incorrect. Sections 17.60.012 and 17.08.110 of the BMC make it clear that fences are excluded from impacting land use or structure occupancy. But why let facts get in the way of a good story?

Dezellem’s love for fiction doesn’t end there. What will he do next? Play budget manager for residents? Oh wait, he already does that! Have too many cars? Watch out—Deceptive Dezellem, I mean Stuart’s on the case! He’s even called the cops on people with more than two vehicles per adult, under the guise of enforcing parking regulations. It’s as if he’s decided to moonlight as everyone’s personal budget manager, overseeing not just fences but vehicles too.

Maybe he’ll start finding obscure regulations that citizens are supposedly violating on their own property just because they upset him about the two-car rule. Oh wait, he already does that too! Just ask the family on 10th St and Douglas Ave who constantly receive calls from city clerks because they dared to challenge his whims. Deceptive Dezellem is turning Bridgeport into his own playground of power trips and petty grievances.

During the meeting on June 18, Dezellem contradicted his own lies by arguing for a mandatory fence permit. His entire argument revolved around a resident who wanted to encircle his yard with a fence, including a driveway gate. This resident was simply following city code and wanted a gate like everyone else. Yet Dezellem, in his usual fashion, misrepresented the situation. Dezellem’s earlier comments reveal a disturbing bias: he claimed he started saying no to driveway gates on fence permits because “Hispanics are too lazy to get out and open gates and park illegally on the sides of the street blocking snowblowers.” Perhaps this man has been a city employee for 17 years too long.

Mayor Sergio Orozco and Councilmember Matthew Schuh, seemingly enchanted by Dezellem’s tales, have tasked staff with drafting an ordinance to clarify off-street parking and permit requirements, set for review in July. Meanwhile, Bridgeport’s residents are left wondering what other fables are being spun in City Hall.

So, what does Bridgeport plan to do to finally follow state laws regarding meeting minutes? And what actions will be taken against a Public Works Director who seems to relish in misleading both the council and the citizens? Stay tuned for the next chapter in Bridgeport’s ongoing comedy of errors.

Regulations and Laws Broken:

1. Bridgeport Municipal Code (BMC) Violations:
   • False Claims about Fence Permits: Dezellem’s assertions regarding the necessity of fence permits within city limits contradict the BMC, which only requires permits for installations within the city right-of-way.
2. Washington State Laws:
   • RCW 42.30.080 (Special Meetings): The city’s failure to announce the special meeting held on June 18 at least 24 hours in advance violates this statute.
   • RCW 42.30 (Open Public Meetings Act): The city’s months-long delay in publishing meeting minutes violates the transparency and timely reporting requirements of this act.
   • Misrepresentation in Official Correspondence: By providing false information in official emails and during council meetings, Dezellem has breached ethical standards expected of public officials, potentially violating laws against fraud and misrepresentation.

Bridgeport’s city officials need to address these violations and ensure compliance with both local and state regulations. The integrity of public office depends on transparency and honesty, qualities currently in short supply in Bridgeport.

Editor’s Note:
The editor has verified the authenticity of the screenshots and actual forwarded emails from Stuart Dezellem, as well as recorded conversations and comments by citizens on local community groups about his actions. This article reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication. We encourage the city and local citizens to provide any updates or additional information so we can continue to inform the community and update the story accordingly.

Furthermore we call on the city to have an open and public meeting inviting citizens to bring forward complains about the Public Works Director.

info@omakrepublic.com