I am speaking as one Port of Olympia Commissioner, not on behalf of the Commission body.
The Port of Olympia has had ongoing issues with culture and leadership. There have been numerous articles describing the Letter of No Confidence in our Executive Director signed by 22 Port Employees. We have seen turnover of all but one of our ED’s direct reports. Six recent separation agreements have cost taxpayers nearly $200,000 in payouts. Our strategic plan outlines culture as a top priority. Public records show we have been investing heavily in attempts to improve culture. I believe all three Commissioners are committed to stabilizing the organization to cultivate a healthy culture where Port staff are supported, and our mission can be carried out.
As we all agree, culture starts at the top. The Commission was elected to lead this organization. I believe a strong and unbudging commitment to truth is fundamental to a healthy organizational culture. As a public agency, truth is also critical in earning, maintaining, and rebuilding the trust of the public. The public record shows there have been many Executive Sessions regarding performance of an employee authorized under (RCW 42.30.110(1)(g)). The content of these meetings is protected. Because I had a planned absence from the last Executive Session, I was briefed outside of this meeting, which allows me to share the information I am speaking to tonight.
After four months of Commission work, the three Commissioners finalized Executive Director Gibboney’s Performance review. This Review represented hours of discussion and many compromises we made to ensure the review was honest, accurate, and reflected all three of our perspectives. Ms. Gibboney was given an opportunity to complete her own self-evaluation, as well as provide comments on the Commission’s final review.
Despite the review being final, Ms. Gibboney arrived at the Commission’s last meeting with a redlined document outlining changes she wanted to see in OUR final performance review of her. These changes included altering scores (a 1.8 became a 3; A 3 became a 5), removing honest – although not always easy to hear - comments of substance, and adding positive accomplishments. She brought this materially altered document to an Executive Session where not all three Commissioners were present.
Because her review would be subject to public record’s requests, Ms. Gibboney opined that presenting a heavily modified and redacted version of her review would “better serve the organization.” She materially altered the Commission’s honest, thoughtful review, because she said it would “further a narrative.” She did not want our comprehensive feedback appearing in the public record.
Ms. Gibboney attempted to alter the public record, undermining our thoughtful and honest assessment of her performance. Her choice to do this is stunning and an overreach of her authority. It demonstrates:
Additionally, it appears to indicate an intent to deceive the public by modifying a document to a degree that it is no longer accurate nor representative of the honest assessment the Commission arrived at of her performance.
As an elected Commissioner, serving at the pleasure of Thurston County constituents, I feel it is important to have this documented in the public record.
Port of Olympia Commission President Amy Evans Harding provided this statement to The JOLT today.
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jimlazar
Thank you Commissioner Evans for stepping up on this.
This Port executive, Sam Gibboney, has created a hostile work environment for Port employees, has deceived the public, has evaded the Public Meetings and Public Records acts, and has cost our community too much already.
It's time to send her packing.
Let's buy Sam Gibboney a one-way ticket to Iran, Congo, Russia, or North Korea. Someplace that appreciates her commitment to democracy, to truth, and to honesty. I'll contribute to that fund happily.
Monday, April 10, 2023 Report this
psterry
An honest, forthright public official. No hedging, no obfuscation. She laid it out there for the public to see. What about the other commissioners? Do they disagree?
Monday, April 10, 2023 Report this
Bobwubbena
Before we jump to a position, let's get more information. I respect both Amy and Sam as professionals. Unfortunately, we are only getting the "public story" of this issue. Public debates seldom are fair or correct all of the facts of the event. Amy, you are a lawyer and an elected official, you know what this does to the credibility of both the Commission and the Staff---not good. Let's use better public leadership to address the issues. Good leadership should guide the public review, not the Comments in the JOLT. The public comments should be measured by their professionalism and not their emotion. Also pay attention to how many times each of the commenter's comment. Let them seek election to an office if they want to speak to the public as a leader vs a complainer.
Monday, April 10, 2023 Report this
longtimeresident
When a No Confidence letter has been signed by 22 employees, there is something wrong with how the Port of Olympia is being managed! We've heard enough about the problems; encourage Ms. Gibboney to find another job, one more suited to her style of management.
Monday, April 10, 2023 Report this
ejzita
Commissioner Evans-Harding is completely correct. Exec. Dir. Gibboney routinely directs the Port Commission to change their annual evaluation of her, to remove criticism. This is consistent with her practice of using all means, ethical or not, to protect her position and her paycheck. Gibboney’s practices have cost the port most its senior staff, many other good employees, and at least one good port commissioner.
The incident which Comm. Evans-Harding revealed is the tip of the iceberg. Mismanagement and deception have deepened the port’s debt, and endanger the public’s assets, safety, and health.
Other *documented* deceptions in recent years include
- killingTumwater’s proposal to mitigate dangers of the Panattoni project, without consulting the Port Comission
- publicly misrepresenting the Commission’s stance on Deschutes Estuary Restoration
- savaging an innocent Port Commissioner with false charges of harassment
- routine financial mismanagement, some of which is discovered in annual “findings” from the State Auditor’s office
- and much more.
It is past time for change. I apologize to the public for this (retired) commissioner’s role in hiring Gibboney to the Port of Olympia. The current commission has the power to rectify our mistake.
Monday, April 10, 2023 Report this
KarenM
As described here, it appears that the Executive Director does not understand who is in charge. After the Commissioners had followed the process of including her at earlier steps, she now seems to think she still has editorial control over her own evaluation. This goes along with other situations where the Executive Director has acted in meetings as if she is one of the commissioners or actually, in charge of the commissioners. That's not how it works.
Thank you Commissioner Evans for speaking up about this. This has been going on for too long.This is a public agency. We elect the commissioners to oversee the workings of the Port. It is time to fix this power struggle with the Commissioners taking control.
Monday, April 10, 2023 Report this
BevBassett
That Joe Downing has supported Sam Gibboney all this time does not surprise me because Gibbony and Downing appear to me to demonstrate a similar world view in so many respects related to their own basic honesty and integrity. But that a man I endorsed and supported for 3rd district commissioner, Bob Iyall, has not fired Gibboney -- after these months and years of horrible job performance by Gibboney when he has apparently had the support of Amy Evans Harding -- disappoints me a lot in Bob Iyall.
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this
AugieH
So, assuming the Executive Director is deficit in her job performance as charged, how is she sacked? By vote of the commissioners? By a recall vote put before the voters? Somebody please educate me/us.
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this
KatAshe
With so much historical and ongoing disfunction with out port, I’m grateful to receive honest information.
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this
bobjonesmilitary
Commissioner Amy Evans Harding exudes leadership. I do not know all the issues, but I support Commissioner Amy Evans Harding and her assessment of this complex and sensitive situation with our Port Executive Director. The other Port Commissioners should follow in support. Bob Jones
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this
OlyMetalDude
After reading this article/LTTE or whatever it is I'm convinced Commissioner Evans Harding needs to resign. Leadership starts at the top. How is this published document leadership? I don't know if Ms. Gibboney is a good leader or not, but from what I just read Commissioner Evans Harding lacks any leadership qualities. The commissioners are the boss of the executive director. I've never in my 32 years as a post college professional heard of a boss that instead of doing what bosses should do, submits a public article that complains about their subordinate with the knowledge that the subordinate can't respond. That's a cowards act, no leader does that. Furthermore, who briefed Commissioner Evans Harding on the executive meeting she skipped so she could post this missive? Only 3 people attended the meeting. If it was either of the other two commissioners, then they broke state law by discussing official port business outside of an official port meeting. If it was Ms. Gibboney who did the debrief the result is even worse because that means Ms. Gibboney respected the Commissioner and gave her an accurate debrief on the meeting expecting the Commissioner to honor the confidentiality of the meeting's discussions but instead Commissioner Evans Harding used the information provided by Ms. Gibboney to stab her in the back by writing this piece. I'm disgusted at this and upset with myself for voting for Evans Harding. I won't make that mistake again when next she's up for election.
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this
OlyMetalDude
I do have to give Commissioner Evans Harding credit for being a skilled author. As much as I initially disagreed with her tactic, my first read through gave me the impression that Ms. Gibboney had done something wrong. After a second reading I realized how unimportant this big issue really was. What Commissioner Evans Harding promotes as the crime of the century is ultimately a subordinate going into a confidential meeting with her supervisors and stating that she disagrees with the ratings on her annual review. That's all this is about. Somebody thinking they can talk candidly in a private meeting and stating they think they performed better than the supervisor's annual review rating shows. I've supervised staff for over 20 years and I've never been offended when a staff member came to me and said they thought they performed better than I rated them on the annual review. Some were able to convince me that I should rate them higher, most were given an honest explanation of why I wasn't going to change the rating. None of them offended me by questioning by rating. Ms. Gibboneys major offense in Commissioner Evans Harding's eyes was that she disagreed with the rating and wanted it revised up. A real lead would either change it or explain why they weren't going to change it. Commissioner Evans Harding decided to be offended that her rating was questioned. Rather than resolve it like a professional, she found a loop hole in the executive meeting rules, exploited Ms. Gibboney's trust, and back stabbed her with this article. Yes, Evans Harding found a loop hole that means she didn't break any laws, but she broke everybody's trust by not following the intent of the laws. Going forward who can trust Commissioner Evans Harding to do the right thing. If Ms. Gibboney leaves or is fired, what high quality person would apply to the job knowing Commissioner Evans Harding is there just waiting to double cross you, to take a legally created confidential meeting and tell the public about it so she can make you look bad and you have to chance to speak back. She threw away her ability to be trusted over an annual review rating that wouldn't have been changed if the Commissioners didn't think it should be changed. Amy, do yourself and all of us a favor and resign now.
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this
OlyMetalDude
@BevBassett I suggest you not be disappointed in Commissioner Iyall. It sounds like you know him and if you do you understand he's a thoughtful person. It's likely he understands the situation better than the attention seeking Commissioner Evans Harding. He's honest with his coworkers and respects them. I'd consider his position to be more wise than that of the one who doesn't respect confidential meetings. Being thoughtful and respectful doesn't grab the headlines but it's more fair and is the only way to a good outcome.
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this
ejzita
AugieH asks how the Exec. Dir. Can be sacked. The answer is - simply by a vote of the Commissioners. The Exec. Dir. is their only employee, and serves at their will.
An at-will employee can be sacked for any reason or for no reason.
No severance settlement is necessary.
An exception would be if the Exec. Dir. had negotiated a contract clause preventing her dismissal - as Gbboney had at the Port of Port Townsend (where she was let go after 2 years due to similar problems, with a payoff). Such a clause is extremely unusual for a port E.D., and Gibboney does not have that at Port of Olympia.
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this
TonyW33
As someone else mentioned, the RCW was violated twice in the conveyance to Commissioner Harding of information in an executive meeting. That's actually violation of the RCW and the Public Meetings Act.
Further, one thing makes me truly curious. What makes the ED believe that she can behave in this manner with impunity? What does she know about the Port of Olympia that none of the rest of us know? What cards is she actually holding? Let's fire her, rip the scab off, and find out what the secrets are.
And let's ask our
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this
TonyW33
I was distracted and didn't complete the last sentence of my comment.
It may also be time that we ask our former (retired) Port Commissioner if she might consider returning for a year as the Port Commissioner in the newly minted District 4. I think that the term is only for one year in the 4th and then a new election would occur for a full term.
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this
OneWhoKnows
Maybe someone should ask the 34/40 staff that have left the Port how well things are going there! Maybe they could shed some light on things, at least those that don't have a gag order not to talk. Commissioner Evans Harding has it RIGHT and it's about time the other two commissioners wake up and do something about it. When over 60% of your staff sign a no confidence letter and the elected leadership ignores it, something is corrupt in the system. And remember over 70% of the staff have left since she started and so included in that 60% are new people with out the history of life before. The public should demand that their elected officials act! After all, were they not elected to do what's best for Thurston County and the Port of Olympia? Commissioner Zita was also bullied by the men on the commission and shut her down every time she tried to bring things to light. Now they are doing the same to Commissioner Evans Harding!
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this
AugieH
ejzita,
Thank you for your response to my question!
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this
Honestyandrealityguy
My hindsight is 20-20! Where will the port be in 5 years? Do the elected officials have institutional knowledge about the Port and Lake? Be patient.
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Report this