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DAYTON-The Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners convened a special meeting on March 30, 2022, to discuss policies about code of conduct and rules of order followed by an executive session for discussion about potential litigation.

Executive Director Jennie Dickinson made a review of Commission policy adopted in 2013 to have a process for handling situations in meetings to provide recourse for when a commissioner or a member of the public violates the code of conduct. “It’s subjective whether someone thinks a discussion is disrespectful or not,” Dickinson said, “but I do think we need to be as careful as we can on how we’re talking about potential tenants or existing tenants.”

Commissioner Seth Bryan made reference to an email sent from Commissioner Chair Genie Crowe to the other commissioners with concerns about the meeting last month, discussing whether to allow the child care facility to be developed on Port land. Communication between commissioners is not allowable if it is in a quorum unless in a public meeting.

Crowe acknowledged this and all expressed that as new commissioners, they are learning.

“As I put in the letter,” Crowe answered, “the discussion in my opinion was not on point. It was hearing your ideologies, your beliefs, your opinions–not on a specific topic. It was just in general...What we’re supposed to be talking about are issues, facts in regards to whatever project it is…That is what, as a chairperson in the future, respectfully I will interrupt and will communicate we need to get back on to topic on a specific fact.”

Bryan said he had a well-prepared outline of what he wanted to say about the project. Crowe specified the quotes given by Lenin and Stalin. But it was clarified those quotes were made in a letter from a member of the public read by Dickinson, not made by Bryan. He responded to Crowe, “It’s not really up to you to decide what and how we come to our decisions. What I had to say that night was really well structured and very much on point and your letter of reprimand was inappropriate. You’re not in a position of authority to be telling us what we can, and in this case cannot talk about...I believe that the general public deserves to hear...how we come to our decisions.”

Crowe defended her position as Chair to bring order to a meeting and Dickinson affirmed. She then highlighted the comments made about the YWCA ideologies, claiming it is presenting his bias. Bryan said he never spoke of the YWCA and Crowe clarified it was Commissioner JohnnyWatts.

Watts responded that the YWCA was not the primary factor for his position of not being in favor of the business being on Port property. He said that having a daycare there would limit what other kinds of businesses can operate there. His intention is to have dialogue about issues and projects among the Commissioners and with the community. He does not want to be a source of division, but he also wants to stand his ground.

Crowe persisted that as commissioners they swore an oath to be impartial and they cannot bring their bias to the table when making decisions as the Port. She questioned her own impartiality about the Port’s trail project because she is a bicyclist. She went on to question the statement made about parent care versus daycare she attributed to Watts. Bryan corrected that it was close to something he said that the best environment for a child is home type environment, not one with a “State structured curriculum.”

Dickinson said the focus needs to be answering the question of what is the Port’s business of whether they want to lease the land “depending on what the Comprehensive Plan says and what the State of Washington laws say about renting and rental discrimination.”

Port Attorney Kim Boggs was present and advised about State laws and mandates about the purpose of a port. “When you as a Board analyze a decision, the first question is, ‘Is it within our authority?’ and ‘Is it a purpose for which we are created?’” If they can answer yes to both, Boggs said, they need to refer to the Comprehensive Plan which is required by law to have in place to plan for growth within the bounds of what is allowed and what the strategic goals are. All decisions should be made towards those goals rather than being focused on deciding based on a perspective.

Dickinson added that should the Commissioners have an issue with a tenant it should be discussed with the staff privately and not in the context of a public meeting where the tenant is “called out.” She said she is always available to talk on any matter.

Watts said his decision was strictly about the Port use of the property and not about the tenant. “Who they leased it to and how they operate it, I probably should have just said that’s not my choice there. So, that’s a learning moment for me.”

Bryan expressed concern about being interrupted while trying to communicate during the last meeting and Crowe’s complaint that the meeting was too long. He said that sometimes important matters will take longer than anticipated to work towards a common goal, but that the Chair should only direct the meetings and not attempt to try to control what the Commissioners say or control the comments.

Watts said at the close of the public meeting, “We’re new, and we’ve been drinking water through a fire hose for the last three months because the agenda and the topics have been heavy. There’s going to be some growing pains. I’d like the opportunity to sit here and hammer those out and actually make some progress rather than not.”

The meeting then proceeded into executive session to discuss potential litigation with legal counsel.

In attendance for the hybrid meeting was Port staff including Executive Director Jennie Dickinson, Commissioner Chair Genie Crowe and fellow Commissioners Seth Bryan and Johnny Watts, Port Attorney Kim Boggs and several members of the public.