The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office detailed an altercation at a Waldport City Council meeting involving former Mayor Heide Lambert. The incident occurred during the meeting on Thursday when Ms. Lambert, having recently been removed from office, seated herself at the council's table and refused to leave. Sheriff Shanks attended the meeting to discuss the police services contract between his office and the city, but the proceeding was upended by Lambert's actions. According to the Sheriff's Office statement, members of the City Council repeatedly requested that she vacate the seat, which she declined.
The Sheriff's members, while attempting to de-escalate the situation, informed Ms. Lambert of the option to leave without consequences and warned her of potential legal repercussions persisting. "After continued refusal, Ms. Lambert was escorted outside and cited for disorderly conduct," the Sheriff's Office expressed. Given that Ms. Lambert ultimately was cited, it was after she refused to comply with the lawful order and was released at the scene.
City Council meetings in Oregon are intended to be accessible to the public, with the Sheriff's Office underscoring that rules such as Robert's Rules of Order or local ordinances aim to keep order. Despite this, someone disrupting those proceedings can, indeed, be legally removed. In the aftermath, as stated by the Sheriff's Office, "This event has caused concern and strong emotions within our community."
