As a Port of Peninsula commissioner, I was able to meet so many wonderful people! However, as the public knows, it has also been a bumpy journey. I firmly believe that wheels have been set in motion to stop and correct the issues happening at the Port of Peninsula.

In a nutshell, or maybe a coconut-sized shell, on Nov. 30 my port email account was closed by the port manager without notice to me. On my attempt to attend an improperly reconvened meeting on Nov. 30, it became apparent that in the manager’s opinion, I was no longer a commissioner, also without notice to me. In fact, and after speaking with the County Auditor who then conferred with the Secretary of State’s office, I learned that because I was appointed and not elected, my term did end when the recent election was certified on Nov. 28. All well and good. Chuck Mikkola will be the new commissioner and he will be great. I happily wish him well.

I am concerned that the abrupt closing of my port email account without notice has meant that several sets of correspondence, with important proof of mismanagement, are now in the hands of the port manager. I am working to gain back access to my emails created while serving as a commissioner.

Update for the week of Nov. 27, 2023: hold on to your hats, this is very chaotic. The Nov. 30 meeting, which had been noticed to be “reconvened” in place of the Nov. 27 meeting (which was never called to order) did not happen and was once again improperly directed to “reconvene” on Dec. 4. Per the port manager, this Dec. 4 “reconvened” meeting was to be considered as fulfilling the required monthly meeting for November! Surprise, the Nov. 30 meeting was never called to order either — how can it be reconvened? I do not understand how a port, with an active lawsuit against them including items regarding violations of the Open Public Meeting Act, thinks adding to the list of OPMA violations is a good thing.

Of additional concern, with all the bogus and inappropriate reconvening of the required November meeting, an important duty was overlooked. Warrants, also known as vouchers or checks, must be approved by the board before the county treasurer will allow them to be paid. This is not new and port management has failed to meet this requirement before. The failure of management to meet this requirement could affect the crew working for the port — their last November paycheck was now in jeopardy of being delayed.

After two failures to meet earlier in the week where this warrant approval could have taken place, an emergency/special meeting was called at 3:55 p.m. on Nov. 30 for a 4 p.m. meeting the following day (Dec. 1), for the sole purpose of approving the warrants. Point of interest — the county treasurer’s office closes at 4 p.m. but County Treasurer Renee Goodin made the trip to be at the minutes-long meeting held at 4 p.m. on the 30th. In my opinion, this was a missed opportunity for port management to correct the error of not sending warrants in a timely manner, as the treasurer left without copies of the signed approvals.

This attitude — that meeting regulations, being in compliance and following through — is somehow a choice, continues to make no sense of me. Expecting extra consideration and time for port management to comply properly is unrealistic and is sadly the root of all the problems facing Port of Peninsula.

Once those problems were unveiled in late February 2023, I was unable to persuade my fellow commissioners to follow the course of action needed. That is a huge disappointment to me. However, I am heartened by the public’s interest in making things right and continue to work to save this much needed economic force and asset to the community and shellfish industry. I continue to hold the vision of a thriving port that operates within regulations — a port that treats customers, tenants and the community with the respect they deserve and with professionalism and transparency.

If you would like updates on how things are going, I have a new email for just that. Please contact me at bonnieundocked@gmail.com.

I appreciate having had the honor of working as a commissioner. Happiest of holidays to you and yours and all the best to you in the New Year. If we continue to work together, we will see the needed changes happen.

BONNIE LOU COZBY


Former Port of Peninsula Commissioner 


Ocean Park