The Port of Centralia will pause its search for an executive director after an announcement earlier this month that it would involve the public in the final vetting of director candidates.
The Centralia Port Commission voted Wednesday, April 15, to pause its search for a new executive director until May 20.
The change effectively extends interim Port Director Amy Graber’s time in the temporary role.
Port Commissioners Kyle Markstrom, Ally Pickard and Peter Lahmann each thanked Graber for her willingness to continue in the role for at least another month. Both Markstrom and Pickard alluded to a need to address other issues before resuming their search for a new port director.
“I just appreciate Amy's willingness to continue in this role for us,” Markstrom said. “We're in the middle of a lot of really critical things, and she's handling them very well.”
Pickard said the members of the port commission “need a break” from the executive search in order to take a closer look at the port's structure and “start fresh.” Pickard also painted the situation as stable with Graber in the role of interim director.
“We're not surviving. We're thriving,” Pickard said.
Lahmann previously announced during a Lewis County mayors meeting that the Port of Centralia Commission had received 14 applicants for the port director position and would interview five of those 14 candidates.
The members of the port commission held a special meeting on Wednesday, April 8, conducted entirely in executive session away from the public eye, citing state laws that allow for the private discussion of applicant qualifications. A public notice estimated the meeting would last at least three hours and no decisions would be made thereafter.
During the mayors meeting at the beginning of the month, Lahmann also stated that the port commission would make public its final three candidates for its open executive director position and involve members of the public in reviewing those candidates.
The Centralia Port Commission began the process of finding a new port commissioner earlier this year after terminating its contract with former long-time Port Director Kyle Heaton.
His termination came after 25 years in the role and caused some criticism as the termination triggered a clause in his contract that requires the port to continue paying Heaton his salary for 18 months, totalling $326,450.88.
The port will also pay other benefits, including health insurance premiums for that same time period, unless Heaton receives benefits from a new employer.
