UPDATE: City’s response focused on favoritism, not lost revenue

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Wed, Nov 30, 2011, 7:51 pm  //  Riley Sweeney

More documents released today as a result of a follow-up public records request by the Political Junkie illuminate more of the city's response to employee moonlighting. For a full write-up of the issue so far, read my previous article detailing how employees in the Public Works department are moonlighting as private contractors.

The latest public records request was for any documents detailing the review process the Human Resources department went through concerning Burdick's business. The previous request covered any email communication referring to his business, but this request included notes and memos. This request included some new material between former Human Resources Director Michelle Barrett, HR staffer Angela Beatty, and Public Works Department Director Ted Carlson. Take a look at the whole bundle here.

It is clear the city staff realized the potential for conflict of interest right off the bat. Multiple references are made in the emails between Pete Ruffatto, Angela Beatty, and Michelle Barrett. These three apparently held a meeting (or a series of meetings) with Ted Carlson in late February. Then, nine months later, Carlson sent Burdick this email on Nov. 2 asking him to clarify issues with how he managed his team, considering he is involved in a private business venture with some of them. A couple key points from this exchange. 

First, Carlson was notified of Burdick's business in February of this year, but did not think it was worth reviewing until November, nine months later. He states, "Recently, concerns have been expressed regarding how this outside business impacts your supervisory relationship within the work group." It is unclear how those concerns were brought to Carlson's attention after such a long period and why Carlson did not see this sort of internal guidelines as necessary until November.

Second, Carlson acknowledges the gravity of the situation. "It now appears your outside business activities may very well present a conflict with your supervisory duties." Carlson and Burdick thoroughly address and discuss how Burdick will avoid issues of favoritism within his office.

Finally, nowhere in any of the materials released, does the city examine the issue of lost revenue.  While Carlson, Beatty, Ruffatto, and Burdick are all involved in these discussions, no one brings up the issue of Burdick's involvement in procuring contracts for the city or his business. 

While the materials released show more detail on how the city responds to these issues, it is clearthey neglected to provide oversight for a very central concern. 

For those wondering why some of the documents are blacked out, this is standard when dealing with lawyer-client confidentiality. Here is the exemption log detailing why documents were withheld and redacted. 

Last word from The Political Junkie: Tuesday, I was on The Joe Show to discuss this issue (you can listen to the podcast here) and while there, I described the situation as "ethical people working in an ethical vacuum." I feel that more than ever after this latest batch of documents. You have good people, trying to work above the board, but because of a complete lack of clear guidelines or policy, they are fumbling in the dark. I was delighted to see the thoroughness of Carlson and Burdick's responses to potential issues of favoritism, I just wish that same rigor had been applied to issues of potential lost revenue, contract oversight, and other such concerns. 

Will Lake Whatcom Watershed Reconveyance Be Approved?

Mon, May 21, 2012, 3:14 pm  //  Wendy Harris

After years of debate, the County Council may be requesting that DNR approve the Reconveyance

0 comments

Last chance, file for PCO

Fri, May 18, 2012, 11:27 am  //  Riley Sweeney

A short plea for public involvement from Riley

0 comments

Specializing in German vehicles.

DRONES!

Thu, May 17, 2012, 10:43 am  //  Tip Johnson

Footage overlooking the Fairhaven area

4 comments; last on May 21, 2012

Cascadia Weekly again on target with the Port

Wed, May 16, 2012, 4:15 pm  //  John Servais

In today's Cascadia Weekly, Tim Johnson analyses the Port Commissioner meeting and the shenanigans of Walker and Chmelik.

0 comments

City Staff Lacks Impartiality On Dock Closure

Tue, May 15, 2012, 7:32 pm  //  Wendy Harris

A City staff memo on the Bloedel dock closure reads more like an advocacy brief

0 comments

Port Commission Expansion to be on November Ballot

Mon, May 14, 2012, 6:07 pm  //  John Servais

Port Commissioners McAuley and Jorgensen voted to put on November ballot the question of expanding commission from 3 to 5 members.

5 comments; last on May 15, 2012

Cascadia Weekly Rips Port - Urges 5

Wed, May 09, 2012, 6:11 am  //  John Servais

Today's Cascadia Weekly rips the Port staff on changed waterfront plans and sees 5 commissioners as possible solution to poor decision making.

2 comments; last on May 10, 2012

R.G. Haley Site: Will Funding Come With a Side of Dioxin?

Mon, May 07, 2012, 11:22 am  //  Wendy Harris

Dioxin contaminated sediment dredged from Squalicum Harbor, dumped at the Cornwall Landfill, may be spread across the R.G. Haley site.

0 comments

Port and City Provide The Truth But Not the Whole Truth

Sat, May 05, 2012, 12:13 am  //  Wendy Harris

Treaty Rights and Public Rights Ignored During Joint Port/City Meeting on Status of Waterfront Redevelopment

1 comments; last on May 07, 2012

Port 5 - Hour of Audio Information

Thu, May 03, 2012, 9:23 pm  //  John Servais

The Joe Show had John Servais on the air for a full hour on Thursday - and we link to the pod cast.

3 comments; last on May 05, 2012

New Facebook Page for Port Reform

Tue, May 01, 2012, 10:24 am  //  John Servais

Bellingham Port Reform has a Facebook page, courtesy of Tip Johnson.

1 comments; last on May 02, 2012

Port Loses New Boat Builder Tenant

Tue, May 01, 2012, 9:34 am  //  John Servais

Port of Bellingham signed lease a month ago to hoopla and now the boat builder is exiting for Anacortes.

11 comments; last on May 08, 2012

Speakers to address Port on Tuesday

Mon, Apr 30, 2012, 10:54 pm  //  John Servais

Several people will be urging the Port of Bellingham commissioners to place the question of expanding to 5 commissioners on the ballot.

0 comments

5 Port Commissioners Initiative Now Circulating

Sat, Apr 28, 2012, 10:09 am  //  John Servais

A county wide initiative will allow voters to decide whether to expand the Port of Bellingham commission from 3 to 5 commissioners.

1 comments; last on Apr 28, 2012

Ron Paul Delegates Railroaded at Whatcom GOP Convention

Tue, Apr 24, 2012, 12:07 pm  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley attended the Whatcom GOP Convention and reports back

1 comments; last on Apr 29, 2012

Charlie Sheldon has Herald Op-Ed

Tue, Apr 24, 2012, 9:25 am  //  John Servais

Today's Bellingham Herald carries an article from Sheldon, with facts, falsehoods and his perspective on his forced resignation as Executive Director of the Port of Bellingham.

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The Road to Nowhere Can Go Forward

Tue, Apr 24, 2012, 1:02 am  //  Guest writer

Developers are gaming the system with help from the county government - and big changes are made in multiple small changes.

1 comments; last on Apr 27, 2012

Earth Day Alert:  Rocket Donuts to throw Fairhaven trees in the Deepfry

Sun, Apr 22, 2012, 7:28 pm  //  Tip Johnson

Will donuts prove more important than street trees?

10 comments; last on May 02, 2012

Video of port commissioners is posted

Wed, Apr 18, 2012, 12:28 pm  //  John Servais

A 26 minute video of the port commissioners explaining their positions on the firing of executive director Charlie Sheldon is posted.

7 comments; last on Apr 19, 2012

Port Meeting Today, Tuesday, at 3 p.m.

Tue, Apr 17, 2012, 12:51 pm  //  John Servais

At 3 p.m. today - Tuesday, April 17 - the Port of Bellingham meets. Let's attend and support rehiring Charlie Sheldon.

3 comments; last on Apr 18, 2012

100 years ago, at 5:38 p.m. today Bellingham time

Sat, Apr 14, 2012, 4:09 pm  //  John Servais

The Titanic struck the iceberg at 11:40 p.m. This post is non political - unless you want to draw a parallel with recent Port of Bellingham events.

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Jim Jorgensen May Reverse His Vote

Fri, Apr 13, 2012, 5:47 pm  //  John Servais

Friday update: Herald reports Jim Jorgensen could change his mind on firing of Port of Bellingham Executive Director Charlie Sheldon

3 comments; last on Apr 17, 2012

Two Port Commissioners Held Illegal Meeting

Tue, Apr 10, 2012, 8:52 pm  //  John Servais

An illegal serial Port Commission meeting should be investigated by the State Auditor, and two commissioners should be made accountable for their actions.

5 comments; last on Apr 11, 2012

A Time for Port Reform

Sun, Apr 08, 2012, 11:33 am  //  Tip Johnson

Wherein the shenanigans start smelling too fishy to tolerate

1 comments; last on Apr 11, 2012

Padden Trails.  It Is Not About Infill; It Is About Profits

Sat, Apr 07, 2012, 2:05 pm  //  Dick Conoboy

The issue is not sprawl or infill, but the money to be made by the type of infill and its placement

7 comments; last on Apr 09, 2012

Growth, Sprawl & Infill:  Padden Trails Project

Fri, Apr 06, 2012, 8:16 am  //  Guest writer

Ken Mann writes a guest article of his personal support for the Padden Trails development inside the Bellingham city limits.

3 comments; last on Apr 07, 2012

Petition to Keep Charlie Sheldon is Online

Thu, Apr 05, 2012, 4:00 pm  //  John Servais

An Online petition has been posted where citizens can sign on to request the Port Commissioners revote on Charlie Sheldon's termination.

5 comments; last on Apr 06, 2012

We Can Expand Port Commission to Five

Wed, Apr 04, 2012, 3:16 pm  //  John Servais

State law allows us to pass an initiative and increase the number of port commissioners from three to five. Thanks to Harriet Spanel.

4 comments; last on Apr 05, 2012

Two Commissioners Demanded Charlie Resign

Tue, Apr 03, 2012, 6:25 pm  //  John Servais

Port Commissioner Mike McAuley did everything he could do to change Jim Jorgensen's mind. Jim and Scott Walker forced Charlie Sheldon out.

6 comments; last on Apr 06, 2012

Questions about Population Growth

Mon, Apr 02, 2012, 12:43 pm  //  Larry Horowitz

Where to begin? Misinformation. Disinformation. Truths. Myths. Same old, same old. Paradigm shift. GMA. OFM. Growth pressures. Population loss. Growth subsidies. Proportionate share.

36 comments; last on Apr 11, 2012

Charlie Sheldon resigns as Port Director

Mon, Apr 02, 2012, 12:35 pm  //  John Servais

This morning, Charlie Sheldon, unexpectedly resigned as Executive Director of the Port of Bellingham.

10 comments; last on Apr 03, 2012

Mayor Kelli comes through for voters

Mon, Apr 02, 2012, 1:03 am  //  John Servais

A thanks to Kelli Linville for her quiet and effective solution to the onerous red light cameras dilemma.

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City Has No Love For Fish and Wildlife

Thu, Mar 29, 2012, 10:32 pm  //  Wendy Harris

Development at Bloedel Park ignores impacts to important shoreline habitat

2 comments; last on Mar 31, 2012

Padden Trails Provides Infill

Mon, Mar 19, 2012, 1:07 am  //  Guest writer

Guest writer Bill Geyer, who is the consultant for the Padden Trails Development, presents facts and perspective on the development.

34 comments; last on Apr 15, 2012

Useful Police Activity Visualization Now Online

Sun, Mar 18, 2012, 11:58 pm  //  John Servais

A new private website displays crimes by dates, on a Bellingham map, or by graphs for all citizens to use.

5 comments; last on Mar 21, 2012

Sunnyland neighborhood asks for support

Thu, Mar 15, 2012, 2:11 pm  //  Guest writer

By guest writer Mike Rostron. Sunnyland residents support infill but not overfill. The old Department of Transportation site on Sunset is the development site.

40 comments; last on Mar 19, 2012

NWCitizen upgrade is completed

Mon, Mar 12, 2012, 11:33 am  //  John Servais

Just a short note about nwcitizen past few weeks effort

1 comments; last on Apr 10, 2012

2012-2013 Priorities from City Council

Sun, Mar 11, 2012, 11:20 am  //  Dick Conoboy

The City Council outlines their agenda for the coming year

2 comments; last on Mar 12, 2012

The Curious Disappearance of Bob Ferris

Fri, Mar 09, 2012, 12:15 pm  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley gets to the bottom of this in a NWCitizen Exclusive

4 comments; last on Apr 01, 2012

Padden Trails is Chuckanut Ridge Lite

Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 2:04 am  //  Guest writer

Yet another neighborhood wants the Planning Department to protect public health, safety, and general welfare

6 comments; last on Feb 24, 2012

Congressional Candidates and Overstreet’s Town Hall

Sun, Feb 19, 2012, 6:37 pm  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley at The Political Junkie attends a forum of Congressional Candidates, and a town hall meeting in Lynden

0 comments

 

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