After Cargo Controversy, Olympia Port Commission Seeks Team-Building Consultant
The Port of Olympia Commission, better known recently for its intense discussions regarding military cargo, charted a new course Oct. 14 after agreeing to hire a consultant to help improve communications between the commission, executive director and port staff.
The team-building idea was pitched by Commissioner Joe Downing during a special work session.
“We have to find ways to work together,” he said, adding that he has been on the job for 10 months and acknowledged there have been “rough patches,” although he didn’t identify them.
“I feel the rough patches keep us from building momentum on getting things done at the port,” Downing said.
Commissioners Bill McGregor and E.J. Zita reacted warmly to his idea and goals, with some minor suggestions to the overall plan.
“I just want to see the commission, as it relates to the public, staff and to each other, improve and build cohesiveness, openness and trust,” McGregor said.
“We had a rough meeting a few weeks ago, and I appreciate this coming from you,” Zita said of Downing and his idea.
The port commission did have a rough work session a few weeks ago after port e-mails came to light through a public records request that showed staff discussing potential military cargo. At that meeting, Zita said she felt betrayed by Executive Director Ed Galligan, who was absent at the time, because she had asked him repeatedly for information regarding the cargo.
Downing and McGregor, too, shared their displeasure with Zita about public meetings she had organized as a private citizen to talk about potential military cargo. McGregor accused her of reaching out to people already opposed to military cargo, while Downing said she had been complicit in getting the public off on the wrong track about the cargo.
But none of that was evident Oct. 13. After Downing made his proposal, the commission seemed pleased with a renewed effort to improve their relationship.
Several potential consultants were mentioned — Margaret Norton-Arnold of Seattle, the Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County, the Athena Group of Olympia and Doug Mah & Associates of Olympia.
Arnold recently facilitated a port listening session on military cargo, while the Athena Group recently took part in a meeting organized by the Hispanic Roundtable of South Sound and the city of Lacey to discuss race, racism and the role of law enforcement.
Zita suggested they stick with a local consultant to minimize costs but also to support a local business.
McGregor added that someone local would “understand our community better than an outsider would.”
Audience member Bev Bassett of Olympia, who frequently attends port meetings, suggested the commission consider the Dispute Resolution Center. She said she and her “housemate” finally used the DRC to overcome some issues by developing a two-page plan of action.
“I won’t say we have lived happily ever after, but we have referred to it and we use that agreement to get along,” she said.
There were some minor suggestions to Downing’s proposal. One part of it reads, “before we involve the community.”
Zita asked that it be removed.
“I don’t want to put up any barriers to our openness and transparency,” she said.
