Well, no surprise from the Port of Peninsula administration they cancelled the Monday, Aug. 14, meeting. It’s an endless cancellation of meetings.

It would seem the two port commissioners would rather not have the public know what secret ways they are spending our tax dollars or be questioned on their actions. Watching what goes on in several meetings I’ve attended, obviously the administrative structure is upside down. Jay Personius, the port manager, or as he likes to be called, executive director, tells the two commissioners what to say at the meetings rather than the board directing the port’s program.

In all my years with the county with different county commissioners, not once have I seen what goes on at the Port. But then again, we may have the most expensive port manager in Washington state when you consider that by not following through with acquiring a Washington State Boatyard permit when told one was necessary in 2018, he has placed the community in the impossible position of a $14 million fine for his actions. Yes, if the fine is levied it will go into appeals, which will ultimately determine the amount of that fine.

Ask yourself who is going to be on the hook to pay the fine. It’s the taxpayers in the port district. All of this posturing with a large state agency could have been easily avoided had Jay done his job and stayed on top of acquiring the boatyard permit back in 2018.

The other question is when did the commissioners become aware of this problem and what was their official action. We may never know, as they don’t want their constituents to know.

CHUCK MIKKOLA

Ocean Park