Port of Olympia commission places executive director Gibboney on paid leave
The Port of Olympia commission emerged from executive session Monday afternoon and placed executive director Sam Gibboney on paid administrative leave.
That’s according to Commissioner Bob Iyall, who took that action along with Commissioner Amy Evans Harding following an executive session that was scheduled from 2-3 p.m. Monday.
Commissioner Joe Downing was absent from the proceedings.
Iyall declined to comment beyond the action that was taken. Acting Executive Director Rudy Rudolph will continue in that role.
The duration of Gibboney’s leave wasn’t immediately known. Also unclear is the status of Gibboney’s medical leave. She first went on medical leave June 5 and it was recently extended into August.
Deborah Pattin, who said she was speaking as an individual and not as chairwoman of the port’s citizens advisory committee, said she agreed with Monday’s decision, but wished it had happened months ago.
“The 60% staff turnover should have been reason enough,” Pattin said about those who questioned Gibboney’s leadership then left their port jobs. “The lengthy delay in settling the ILWU 47B contract, especially since there was the already- Commissioner-approved 47A contract, was the second reason, in my opinion.”
Pattin added a third reason.
“Paying the high attorney fees for the labor negotiations has been a waste of taxpayer dollars,” she said. “Those dollars could, and should, have been used for pay raises for those ‘boots on the ground’ maintenance workers at the Boat Works and Swantown Marina.”
Gibboney has led the port for more than four years. Her first two years at the helm were relatively smooth, but the last two years have been rocky, beginning with a vote of no confidence she received from about two dozen employees unhappy with her leadership, The Olympian previously reported.
Some employees also received hefty payments to leave their jobs. There also was controversy surrounding her performance review, which prompted Commissioner Evans Harding to try to put her on paid leave in April. She was outvoted at the time.
Before coming to Olympia, Gibboney was the executive director of the Port of Port Townsend.
This story was originally published August 7, 2023 at 3:59 PM.
