Port of Olympia commissioner Vasavada gets to work, makes 3 suggestions at first meeting
.JPG "The Port of Olympia’s marine terminal warehouse.")
The Port of Olympa’s new five-member commission gathered for the first time on Monday, including Commissioner Jasmine Vasavada.
Vasavada, who defeated former port commissioner Bill McGregor for the District 1 seat, had to wait until the new year to participate in her first meeting as a commissioner because Joe Downing held the seat through the end of the year.
Commissioners Maggie Sanders and Sarah Tonge took their seats last month because the District 4 and 5 positions were newly created. The two other port commssioners are incumbents, Bob Iyall and Amy Evans Harding.
Vasavada went straight to work Monday and made three suggestions during the meeting.
Her recommendations:
▪ The commission decided to defer their vote on naming officers until Jan. 22 so that the newcomers could get up to speed on parliamentary voting procedures. Previously, the president of the commission met with the executive director to review agendas, but Vasavada suggested two commissioners could meet with the executive director now and not constitute a quorum. It also would make it a more collaborative process, she said.
▪ The commission voted to approve its meeting calendar for the year — two regular commission meetings and a work session every month — but Vasavada also suggested they keep open the door to having special meetings as needed to address a “signifcant work plan,” she said. Part of that work plan includes hiring a new executive director.
▪ Vasavada also wanted to add a topic of discussion to a future meeting: That the commission review its delegation of authority resolution as it relates to the executive director. Although she was prepared to make a motion Monday, she agreed to revisit the conversation after a Tuesday orientation for port commissioners.
“I’m very excited and happy to see the new faces and the new initiative,” said resident Lee Riner, who attended Monday’s meeting, adding that many people worked hard to get Vasavada, Sanders and Tonge elected.
Riner said she was looking forward to a new vision and a new pathway at the port.
Former Commissioner Downing also took advantage of public comment during the meeting. He echoed his support for Vasavada’s idea of having two commissioners meet with the executive director to review agendas.
This story was originally published January 9, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
