Scrap metal shipping from Port dock ends this summer

This afternoon, March 25, 2024, Port of Bellingham Commissioners voted 3-0 to terminate the remaining 13 years on ABC Recycling’s lease for shipping scrap metal from the Bellingham waterfront. The Port meeting was packed with an overflowing chamber of residents there to support the vote, plus an unknown number watching via Zoom. This large attendance was very unusual for a Port meeting and speaks to the concern throughout our community.  Commissioner Ken Bell presided, showing respect for the audience and for each person who commented.  The meeting lasted about an hour.

Approximately 20 citizens spoke during the comment periods, with every speaker endorsing the termination. While all comments were politely stated, most had sharp criticism of the Port for entering into the leases in the first place. At the end of the meeting, commissioners Ken Bell and Bobby Briscoe admitted regret for entering the leases at all. Commissioner Michael Shepard lectured the audience - an audience loaded with civic activists and savvy citizens - about how they should participate and what behavior was acceptable. Bobby Briscoe chastised one citizen for criticizing Port Executive Director Rob Fix - criticism that the citizen presented in a civil manner. Bobby said it “rankled” him. In all, the audience was more respectful than two of the commissioners. 

Last week, Port and ABC lawyers and managers met to discuss the situation.  From that meeting came a mutual decision to end the leases and shipping of scrap metal from the waterfront dock. Importantly, no more scrap will be received, and all scrap currently piled on the waterfront will be gone by June 30. Several audience members had pointed questions about the final cleanup of contaminated ground once the scrap is gone, and how this scenario may be prevented in the future. The commissioners pledged to do better. As a long time Port watcher, I’ve certainly heard that before, including on other major leases and projects going back almost 40 years.  

No report on this meeting should gloss over the ineptitude of the Port staff’s ability  to manage the microphones, displays, phone connections, and Zoom participants, who were literally forgotten periodically. Further, unidentified voices making obscene comments occurred randomly throughout the meeting - to chuckles from the audience. Staff was unable to determine the source or location of the speakers.  

And then there is Bobby Briscoe; this, no doubt, is about to “rankle” him. Bobby attends port meetings remotely for extended periods, months, at a time - that is, by phone. To clarify, this means he does not attend the meetings, because in fact, connecting by phone is not attending a meeting, regardless of how the Port spins it. He “phoned it in” today, in fact, and today was a good example of how and why this does not work. Bobby had to be coached every time he spoke and when the vote was called. He remarked at one point, he could not understand what was being said in the meeting. Indeed, the meeting was delayed 10 minutes while staff struggled to establish his phone connection; they seemed mystified why Bobby could not hear them. Supposedly, Bobby is out fishing.  

There is an obvious solution for this continuum of poor decision making and expensive ventures by the Port. We need a five (5) commissioner Port commission. The three current commissioners have touted themselves as the best team of commissioners ever at our Port. After today’s display, they are obviously right back there with commissions of the past: mending a huge judgement error and promising to do better. This scenario has been repeating for decades.  

Why doesn’t three work? Because throughout history, triumvirates have only worked so long as all agree on the mission and practices. As soon as there is a difficult decision, they break down. No corporation has only three directors or board members. The conventional minimum is five - and many contend it is the best number for grounded and intelligent decisions. Councils of seven and nine are also fine, but beyond that, the decision making becomes cumbersome.  

We as a community should start now to have an initiative on the November ballot for a five commissioner Port of Bellingham. The details are easy - one each from each county council district.