Tuesday night’s meeting of the Sammamish City Council had some of the festive atmosphere of a Thanksgiving dinner, as family and friends of three outgoing councilors gathered to pay their tributes and reflect on the achievements of the city over the past 10 years.

For councilmembers Jack Barry, Kathy Huckabay and Lee Fellinge, the meeting on Dec. 15 marked their last as city councilors – for this term anyway. In the election in October, Barry lost his seat to first time candidate Tom Odell, while Huckabay and Fellinge announced their intention to step away from the role earlier in the year.

Barry and Huckabay have been councilors as long as the City of Sammamish has been a city, and so their were plenty of memories to go with the well-wishes. Huckabay was particularly instrumental in organizing homeowners groups prior to incorporation.

“It’s been a pleasure, nothing less,” City Manager Ben Yazici said of working with the three, before a slideshow of photos illustrating their involvement in the city was shown to all assembled.

Sammamish Rotary’s Bernie Lucking was the first of a number of citizens to take to the podium to publicly thank the councilors.

“It’s a thankless kind of job,” he said.

Lucking went on to tell a humorous story about his wife’s fondness for an old wallpaper store which used to be in business.

“I’d put up the wallpaper, and then two years later, she’d buy some new wallpaper. I’d say ‘there’s nothing wrong with the old wallpaper.’ It seems like sometimes people change the wallpaper for no darn reason at all.”

Presumably Lucking was suggesting their wasn’t a good reason to change the council as it is. Most of those in attendance Tuesday night would have agreed.

SAMMI Awards Board Member Connie Wahlsworth paid tribute to Barry, thanking him for his commitment to the city and involvement in community groups.

“Without Jack, there would be any SAMMI Awards,” she said.

Barry, along with Wendy Boglioli, Karen Armstead and Loren Stayboldt, came up with the idea for the community awards on Sept. 11, 2001.

“I hope everyone realizes, when they drive around Sammamish, when they walk around and they think what a great city it is, they remember that it wouldn’t be the city it is without our councilmembers, and particularly my friend Jack.”

Mayor Don Gerend even burst into verse for the occasion reading a poem he wrote for the three councilmembers.

“My name is Jack Barry and I’m a recovering politician,” Barry said. “I’ve been clean for six weeks now, and things are looking good for me.”

Barry, Huckabay and Fellinge all thanks their wives, husbands, family and friends who gathered for the occasion, for their patience during the long nights of meetings, and support.

The meeting then adjourned for cake and refreshments.

The next meeting of the City of Sammamish Council will be held Tuesday, Jan. 5., and will include the swearing in of new councilmembers John James, John Curley and Tom Odell.