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The Port of Centralia Commission voted 2-1 Wednesday to appoint port finance and administration director Amy Graber as the interim port executive director following former executive director Kyle Heaton’s termination.
Commissioner Peter Lahmann voted against the move, while Commissioners Kyle Markstrom and Julie Shaffley approved.
Heaton’s tenure as the executive director officially will conclude Dec. 31 after nearly 25 years in the position. The port commission voted unanimously to terminate his contract and negotiate and execute a separation agreement during its Dec. 3 meeting.
However, Lahmann, who initially voted to approve the termination, declared his intent to rescind his vote Wednesday while the commission voted to approve the minutes of the Dec. 3 meeting.
“I had 15 minutes advance notice on this topic, and it was unclear to me why we would release an employee that had done such a great job for the port,” he said. “I was looking forward to the chance to have some accountability, communication and transparency going into the future, and I think we’ve lost that opportunity.”
Lahmann asked the port’s legal counsel when it would be appropriate to rescind his vote, and he was advised that the move would require a new action item on the agenda. No further mention of the rescission was made during the meeting.
Graber steps in on an interim basis, and the port commission can decide on a permanent executive director once Commissioner-elect Ally Pickard is sworn in in January. Graber will earn $217,000 annually, which is equivalent to Heaton’s base salary.
Lahmann, while acknowledging his full faith in Graber’s ability to do the job, disagreed with setting her salary at that amount, calling it “way out of line.” Multiple citizens brought up the same concerns during the public comment period of the meeting.
Markstrom noted that nearby ports, naming Ridgefield as an example, pay their executive directors north of $217,000 per year. He added that the commission can set the salary for the new executive director if it desires.
Randy Mueller, former Port of Ridgefield CEO, said he didn’t believe Graber’s salary was out of line with other ports. He also expressed interest in becoming the full-time executive director if the incoming port commission decides to hire for it.
“I would potentially be interested in throwing my hat in the ring for that. Semi-retirement is great, but I think I could help the port commission set up the next port commission,” Mueller said.
Elizabeth Cameron, former Centralia city councilor, took issue with Markstrom’s Dec. 3 motion to appoint him to negotiate Heaton’s separation agreement on behalf of the port.
“I request that the motion of Mr. Markstrom terminating Mr. Heaton and appointing himself as negotiator be rescinded due to Mr. Markstrom’s inability to be impartial in his emotional and tearful display at the last port meeting,” she said. “Obviously you’ve been on a really great rapport with him, and I can appreciate that. I don’t believe you can really be an impartial negotiator on behalf of the taxpayers.”
Markstrom responded directly to Cameron’s comment, acknowledging his relationship with Heaton and his “significant emotional angst” about the port’s future.
“It was a sad event to make that motion,” Markstrom said. “While I do have a relationship with Executive Director Heaton and all the employees of the port, as well as fellow commissioners and other members of this community, I’m truly heartbroken for this community because I see it as the end of a tenure of great success and development for my community, the community I care so much about. So many people I know are employed by the port, have made livings to support their families, and have been benefactors to the development and all of the success that the port has had over the last 20 years.
“Quite honestly, I feel like that continued success is in jeopardy,” he continued. “And for that, I have significant emotional angst.”
After Markstrom’s motion to appoint Graber as the interim executive director, he addressed the “tone in the room” and the immediate need to fill the position.
“I want to respect the new incoming commission. We need somebody to carry the torch now,” Markstrom said. “The new commission in January, or at any time in the future, can appoint another executive director. We’re not signing a contract with Ms. Graber. She has graciously said that she would step in and help us at this time.”
Shaffley agreed with the decision to appoint Graber into the executive director role on an interim basis, as well as matching her salary with Heaton’s base salary.
“I am in full agreement of this because we do need continuity. We have the knowledge, the wisdom and the experience of Amy to help with the transition,” Shaffley said. “Without that, there is going to be a huge learning curve. I feel that this is the prudent thing to do. With not only what she is doing normally, she’s going to be burdened with a lot of other things and a lot of other matters. She should be compensated for that.”
At the end of the meeting, Markstrom announced that the separation agreement with Heaton was negotiated and has been executed “pending a couple of signatures.” He said the information will be available to the public “at a future date.”
