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01/23/2008: "Port Of Friday Harbor Director Marilyn O’Connor"

The Friday Harbor Port Commissioners have made their selection, and the new Director for the Port is the current Interim Executive Director, Marilyn O’Connor.

The Commissions started off with 35 applicants for the position, got down to a short list of four, including O’Connor, and have now announced their decision.

The other candidates were Brian Windrope of Friday Harbor, Jack Crider of the Port of Tillamook, Oregon, and Kristy Armstrong of Rhode Island.

The next meeting of the Port is scheduled for Wednesday the 23rd, and the first item on the agenda is the introduction of the new Port Director; who of course needs no introduction, having been with the port for a number of years in various positions, most recently as the port auditor, overseeing the port budget of eight million dollars.

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Among her many other duties over the years, Marilyn was responsible for project management at Spring Street Landing and the Skagit Valley College building, both built on Port property. She has worked on airport development grants and projects since 1985, and oversaw the re-building of the Jackson Beach Public Boat Launch. A new Port Auditor will need to be appointed now that O'Connor is the Director.

The Commission had said their decision would be based on what was best for the Port, and for the community. Whatever other qualities O’Connor may bring to the job, experience in how the Port operates, and experience in understanding the community, should be a given.

In addition to O'Connor's years of on-the-job training, involvement in the WPPA, she has attended the University of Washington's Cascade School of Public Management. The school's program is designed to give working public sector professionals both a philosophical foundation and applied skills to improve public management in our state.

O’Connor also graduated from the Leadership San Juan Islands Class I, which involved an exploration of San Juan County’s “systems” of governance, education, economics, environment and community/health.

The full agenda is as follows:

FRIDAY HARBOR PORT DISTRICT
Port Commission Regular Meeting at the San Juan Island Yacht Club
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.

Agenda
1. Introduction of New Port Director. Approve minutes of previous meeting(s). (Note: Minutes are kept at the Port Office and the San Juan Island Library.)

2. Citizen comments/requests: For items not on the agenda citizens can make a brief presentation and ask the Commission to schedule a topic for discussion at a future meeting.

3. Committee reports and facility maintenance report: Maintenance Supervisor Report

4. Consent agenda:

5. Commission Action Issues:
A. Approve signatures on extension of U.S. Customs lease until June, 2009.

6. Commission Discussion items:
A. Report by Economic Development Council of 2007 activity
B. Sale of San Juan Excursions to Crystal Seas Kayaking
C. Proposal from Patrick McClaren regarding Jackson Beach
D. Upcoming visit from Bellingham delegation regarding passenger ferry service

7. Public Hearings: None (5 p.m. when scheduled)

8. Staff Reports:
A. Auditor:
Approve payments of payroll and warrants

B. Airport Operations Manager:
Westwind Aviation update

C. Harbormaster/Marina Report:
Lease of space at SSL (old dive shop)
Island wide security exercise
New Vice-President of Pacific Coast Congress (PCC) Harbormasters and
Port Managers

D. Executive Director:
Review of 2008 Commissioner priorities

9. Capital Improvement/Acquisition Project Approvals:

10. Commissioners' reports, comments, correspondence and requests:

11. Agenda items pending future action:

12. Executive sessions: (Property acquisition and personnel issues)

Adjourn

MEETING NOTES: Regular Port Commission meetings are held at 4:00 pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the San Juan Island Yacht Club. The next regular meeting is January 30, 2008 at the Airport Meeting Room. __
The Prime Directive (mission) of the Port of Friday Harbor: "The Port of Friday Harbor shall maintain a healthy economy with family wage jobs, and improve the social, economic and natural environments of the island.”