Recent Developments
Last Monday, a slim majority of the City Council, led by Councilmember Dean Hachamovitch, passed an ordinance to remove the City Administrator position from the city code. This action, taken with no public input and no plan for succession, has thrown Clyde Hill’s government into disarray. Mayor Steve Friedman vetoed the ordinance on Friday, likely setting the stage for further conflict.
The “Special” Meeting
On February 10, a special council meeting was called to accommodate Hachamovitch’s travel schedule, moving it from the regular date of February 11. Notification for this meeting was not disseminated through email and other normal channels, significantly limiting public participation. Under the Open Public Meetings Act, special meetings require the agenda to be published and unchanged 24 hours prior to ensure transparency. Hachamovitch initially disguised a critical agenda item as “Discussion & Possible Council Actions re: CHMC 2.07,” only to update it shortly before the meeting to read “Eliminate City Administrator Position Ordinance.” This last-minute addition undermines the spirit of the law, which is meant to ensure public awareness and input.
The Votes and Implications
When Councilmember Ryan Olson motioned to remove the item from the agenda, Hachamovitch stated, “I will violently disagree.” At 10:30 PM, five and a half hours into a six-hour meeting, Councilmember Brad Andonian motioned to remove the City Administrator position. Councilmembers Hachamovitch, Lisa Slivka, and newly appointed Brad Andonian voted in favor, while Councilmembers Olson and Steve Sinwell opposed. This decision was made with minimal discussion, against Mayor Friedman’s wishes, and without a plan for redistributing the City Administrator’s duties.
Hachamovitch and Slivka in Hiding
Hachamovitch and Slivka logged in from undisclosed locations, with Hachamovitch not appearing on camera, possibly to obscure his intentions. They have clashed with the City Administrator over personal property disputes—Slivka over an unresolved hedge issue and Hachamovitch over a declined gate permit that would have blocked a public fire hydrant.
Questioning Andonian’s Support
Councilmember Brad Andonian appears to have been misled into supporting the motion under the guise of budget cuts. Firing the City Administrator could incur a $80,000 severance cost, exacerbating the budget deficit, disrupting city services, and harming staff morale. The City Administrator coordinates city operations and handles many of the Mayor’s functions, with the Mayor being a volunteer position. Without additional compensation, Mayor Friedman would be expected to assume these duties that are normally assigned to a full-time employee.
It’s important to highlight that the council has overlooked numerous alternative budget cuts that wouldn’t disrupt our city government. This oversight implies that the current measures to reduce the city’s deficit are not genuine, as they fail to consider all expenses beyond city staff.
Mayor Friedman’s Veto
On February 14, Mayor Friedman vetoed the ordinance to keep the City Administrator position. Friedman has stated he would resign if the position were eliminated, which would elevate Hachamovitch, the Mayor Pro-Tem, to mayor. This is not the first time Hachamovitch has targeted the mayoral role, having previously made it untenable for Mayor Marianne Klaas in 2022. These moves are widely perceived as power grabs driven by personal vendettas, rather than genuine efforts to address the budget deficit.
Mayor Friedman’s veto message highlighted the concerning nature of the process, noting the short notice, unusual timing, vague agenda, and late posting of key documents. Furthermore, he stressed that eliminating this vital role in our city government would create significant instability and “put the community at serious risk.” The Council majority suggested the need for professional staff but acted to circumvent the Mayor’s authority over hiring and firing.
Additional Concerns
Both Councilmembers Slivka and Andonian were appointed, not elected, to their positions. Hachamovitch narrowly won his seat by just 54 votes, without disclosing his prior lawsuit against the city over a declined gate permit—a case that cost taxpayers $10,000. A whistleblower complaint regarding Hachamovitch’s alleged abuse of power led to a $20,000 settlement at taxpayer expense. Hachamovitch has also bypassed the Mayor and City Administrator to access the City Attorney directly, billing taxpayers for personal property issues.
Political Climate
With Councilmembers Hachamovitch, Slivka, and Andonian all up for reelection in November 2025, the stakes are high, and the political climate is tense. Residents are closely watching these developments, aware that the future of the city’s leadership and governance is at risk.
The Coalition will continue to monitor this issue closely.
Take Action
Residents are urged to attend City Council meetings and speak up. If you oppose these measures, we encourage you to email the City Council and make your objections known.
Clyde Hill City Council Emails
Lisa Wissner-Slivka – [email protected]
Steve Sinwell – [email protected]
Brad Andonian – [email protected]
Ryan Olson – [email protected]
Dean Hachamovitch – [email protected]