PORT COMMISSIONER MCALEER RESPONSE TO THE EDITOR'S POSTING

The following is a email response I got from Port Commissioner Colleen McAleer:

Peter,
I'm feel compelled to comment on your following item in your latest report
"PORT COMMISSION AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM:
Special Meeting - February 26, 2016 At 4 PM To Evaluate Qualifications Of Dist. 2 Commissioner Candidates And Make A Decision On Which Candidates To Interview.
Editor's Note: They didn't release the names of the two candidates wanting to fill Hallet's posting, I have to ask, why the hush, hush? What happened to transparency?"


The deadline for application for District 2 Commissioner is Monday. An appointment application (similar to employment application) is protected based on the private information contained about the individual in the application.  If the applicant wants to disclose that they have applied they have that right. But keep in mind Connie and I won't see the full list of who has applied until Monday or Tuesday.  I have no idea how many people will apply. In 2011 I understand there were 15 applicants. I hope we receive that many again. You statement that there are two applicants is incorrect.

Here's the process:
Once all applications are in Connie and I will review the applications and narrow down the list to those we'd like to interview. We will make a final decision as to who we want to interview publicly on Feb 26th.

We will likely pick the top 2-5 applicants. Then we will publicly interview those finalists on March 4th. You are welcome to attend the interviews. We will come up with a top one or two and do some background checks most likely. We will then likely make a final decision on March 11.
I believe we have really done a lot to have two meetings now to reach out to entities like the City Council, Jim Hallett, PABA, Rotary, Clallam Pilots, PA Boat Haven Advisory Committee and the PA Chamber asking them to provide their input when we created the criteria and questions we'd ask.
We did not have to do that.

Peter I respect the work you do and appreciate your involvement but you are wrong when you say the process has been "hush, hush" or insinuate a lack of transparency.
If you have a concern that we're not being transparent or being accountable to the public I'd like you to contact me. I'm absolutely committed to making the hard tough decisions publicly while we adhere to the OPMA and applicants rights to their privacy.

Sincerely - Colleen

Colleen McAleer, CCIM
Commissioner
Port of Port Angeles


Editor's Note: I was going by what the agenda items:
A. Special Meeting - February 26, 2016 At 4 PM To Evaluate Qualifications Of Dist. 2 Commissioner Candidates And Make A Decision On Which Candidates To Interview.
B. Special Meeting - March 4, 2016 At 9 AM To Conduct Interviews With The Dist. 2 Commissioner Candidates.
( Apparently I misread what was posted, I took the Dist. 2 commissioner candidates wrong, I confused the number "2" posting position on the board, as actual two candidates have already submitted for the posting, my bad on that one. Should read these things more carefully, I apologize for that. However, I still feel if the get applicants of the number 2 position, they should share the applicants names to the public.