Portland is gearing up for a showdown over secrecy at City Hall as leaders move to remove an alternate member of the city's new Community Board for Police Accountability after he refused to sign a confidentiality agreement. City Council is slated to vote on the move on Feb. 5, 2026, less than a week before the board's first meeting on Feb. 11, 2026.
Bob Weinstein, 75, who was appointed as an alternate last June, declined to sign the nondisclosure agreement and told a reporter that "the city has what I have called a cult of secrecy," according to OregonLive. His refusal landed him in a staff recommendation for removal even as other members signed the agreement to start training and board work.
The nondisclosure presented to board members would block them from talking about trainings, misconduct investigations, information provided by city staff, and even the existence of the agreement itself, OregonLive reported. The outlet quotes the agreement as stating that "all information shared with (members) shall be treated as confidential, privileged, and/or strategic."
City Paperwork Sets Stage For Removal Vote
City staff recommended Weinstein’s removal in a council report filed ahead of the Feb. 5 vote, framing the move as necessary to address eligibility and to allow alternates to be appointed so the board can meet federal settlement deadlines, according to Portland.gov. The report cites him for "removal with cause" under the CBPA rules and asks council to fill any vacancies that result.
What The Law Requires
Portland's municipal code requires CBPA members to complete background checks and trainings and to sign a confidentiality agreement. The code also lists breach of confidentiality and "objective demonstration of bias" as grounds for removal, per Portland.gov. The code and related materials give the board access to confidential investigative files while also mandating public summaries in some cases, which sits at the center of the argument over how much members can say in public.
Politics, Power, And A Volunteer Gig
Weinstein is a familiar figure in Portland political circles who helped launch the group Partnership for Progress and drew scrutiny after his appointment last summer, Portland Mercury reported. Service on the CBPA is voluntary and comes with a $500 annual stipend, according to GovernmentJobs.com, which notes that members must sign confidentiality agreements and complete required training.
What Happens Next
City Council is set to take up the removal at its Feb. 5 meeting. If the council signs off on staff's recommendation, it will appoint alternates so the board can reach a quorum for its Feb. 11 kickoff meeting. The fight over the NDA is an early stress test for Portland's new police oversight system and could influence whether community members feel comfortable serving on a body tasked with reviewing police misconduct.
