It wouldn’t be the first issue of the new year without taking a look back. And what a year 2024 was!

The election year with big national implications had plenty right here at home, with changes at almost every government.

Port Townsend watched work underway to replace its old jetty, and celebrated when the new one came online. It saw a significant expansion begun on Jefferson Healthcare, which will debut in 2025.

Citizens watched as the entity in charge of managing the Fort Worden State Park campus failed, only to have Jefferson County Superior Court judge put it in receivership, a process that will continue to play out.

There were enough potholes in town to drive locals to distraction, and movement on the part of city government to better fix them, including with new equipment.

A troubled waste water treatment system saw a mighty $43 million earmarked for its improvement in 2025.

Stories don’t generally happen all at once and then end. The Leader followed them along in 2024 and will do it again in 2025.

But, for now, let’s remember the year that was by revisiting its top local news stories.

JANUARY

City finds no asbestos on Cherry St. 

The razing of the barged-from-Victoria building was temporarily halted last week as citizens voiced concerns about the City’s compliance with environmental concerns, specifically asbestos abatement. The Cherry Street Building, previously called the Carmel Building, was originally purchased in 2017 with housing provider Homeward Bound receiving a $250,000 city loan to barge the 70-year-old building from its previous home in Victoria, B.C. to Port Townsend.

“We’ve addressed concerns which might be related and I and a number of staff did a site visit. We had required the contractor to do dust control which they we not doing, so we stopped work until that can be remedied,” City Manager John Mauro told The Leader.

Mauro said demolition could cost as much as $50,000 but that $300,000 of the original $834,000 affordable housing bond is yet unspent. It’s removal marks the end of an unsuccessful housing project, at which several organizations had failed.

“There was an attempt for Bayside Services to salvage the project and they spent a couple years on it, but over the past few years, housing material costs were through the roof. They just couldn’t make it pencil,” he said.

Point Hudson jetty efforts doubled 

For the month of January, the Orion Marine Group crew building a new jetty at the mouth of the Point Hudson Marina will double its number and its work hours.

Two crews instead of one will be working back-to-back 12-hour shifts, for a total of 24 hours a day. Both crews will work six days a week.

Doubling the work is expected to get the in-water portion of the project done by the end of January, said Port of Port Townsend Executive Director Eron Berg. That window was set by federal and state fisheries biologists to ensure safe passage of young salmon and other protected species.

While a few pilings have yet to be leveled, most of the remaining in-water work involves installing tie rods and an exterior buffer, then placing an estimated 5,000 tons of armor rock inside the pilings.

Marchers stand up for reproductive rights

Protest marchers took their calls for reproductive rights to the streets at noon on Saturday, Jan. 20, lining the sides of Sims Way with picket signs. From Safeway down to Kearney Street, members of the local chapters of League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women joined a demonstration convened by Port Townsend Indivisible.   

Saturday’s event was focused on promoting reproductive health care rights for all, along with gearing up for an election year, according to organizers.

Short’s Farm plan launches first steps

Members of the Port of Port Townsend’s Farm Steering Committee will walk the recently-acquired Short’s Family Farm in Chimacum on Feb. 7 as step one of the agency’s plan to develop the property in a way that they say will support local agriculture.

While the walking survey is open to the public, the port’s deputy director Eric Toews said, “This is not a farm tour. It really is a walking farm orientation before the committee members roll up their sleeves and get down to business. It’s really a meeting that is focused on bringing the steering committee up to speed.”

The committee, created Sept. 27, 2023, is made up of six local farmers and one representative each from Jefferson LandWorks Collaborative, Jefferson County Conservation District, and the North Olympic Salmon Coalition.

FEBRUARY

PUD adopts utility poles rate hike

Jefferson County PUD commissioners approved a resolution Feb. 6 adopting a slate of rate increases for utility pole attachments, to aid with capital replacement costs.

Countywide there are approximately 11,900 private pole attachments across nearly 9,000 utility poles. Telecom businesses rent mounting areas on PUD-owned utility poles within the communications space, which is the approved distance below high-voltage electrical lines and equipment and ground level.

A utility pole’s service life averages from 30 to 40 years. Pole connections can introduce weather, animals, and insects, potentially shortening the pole lifespan.

Voters support new levy rate

While Chimacum School District voters widely supported the district’s ask for more funding in the special election Feb. 13, Quilcene School District voters denied their own district’s request for a levy hike.

As of Feb. 16, 63 percent of Chimacum school district voters supported Proposition No. 1, while 36 percent voted against. There were 4,674 votes cast.

In a nearly split vote, Quilcene voters turned down their school district’s levy increase request with 51 percent against the ballot measure and 48 percent in support. There were 790 votes cast.

According to state law, the results will become official, or certified, on Feb. 23 – 10 days after the election date.

Foul weather hits Jefferson County

A late winter snowfall dumped nearly four inches of snow across Port Townsend and much of Jefferson County this week. High winds arrived on Feb. 25, with PUD reporting more than 2,000 customers without power across north-central parts of the county. Additional outages were reported that day, affecting more than 200 customers along West Valley Road and areas southwest of Chimacum. Snow fell overnight on Feb. 26, and the area remains under a winter storm warning as of this writing. Cold, windy conditions and heavy precipitation are forecast to continue through Thursday.

MARCH

Home fire extinguished on Paradise Bay

East Jefferson Fire Rescue responded to a reported structure fire in Paradise Bay at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Monday, March 4.

Several neighbors called 911 after observing a large column of smoke and flames, while initial fire crews observed a well-established fire on West Boat Road.

The double-wide mobile home’s occupants smelled smoke and evacuated to a neighbor’s home, with one resident transported to Jefferson Healthcare, but later released, according to Fire Chief Bret Black.

Engines 6, 7 and 8, plus Medic 2, MSO 1, fire chiefs and water tender volunteers responded to the incident, for a total of 19 responding personnel.

The first arriving engines connected to the hydrant, initiating the fire fight, and kept the fire from extending to neighboring structures.

The structure was completely destroyed by the fire, whose cause is under investigation.

Coast Guard aids in boat rescue off Marrowstone Island

Emergency responders were dispatched for a vessel on the rocks on the east side of Marrowstone Island on Saturday, March 2.

East Jefferson Fire Rescue units Medic 6, Marine 7, Battalion Chief 11 and Engine 91 from Naval Magazine Indian Island were dispatched with the U.S. Coast Guard just after 5 p.m. that day.

JeffCom reported one individual swam to shore, while another was stuck on the vessel.

East Jefferson Fire Rescue units worked in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard to plan the rescue.

A Coast Guard fast boat and East Jefferson Marine Unit 7 stood by, in the vicinity, while a Coast Guard helicopter made the rescue, dropping a swimmer on the vessel and retrieving the boater by basket just after 6 p.m.

The Coast Guard flew the rescued boater to the Jefferson County International Airport, where the individual was evaluated by an awaiting East Jefferson Medic unit.

The other boater was evaluated at the scene and declined aid.

Jaman, banned from YMCA, returns with demand letter

A Port Townsend woman who was permanently banned from the city’s Mountain View Swimming Pool after a July 2022 incident with a transgender employee is seeking $350,000 in damages, her ban lifted, and a formal apology from the city.

A demand letter, dated March 19, was sent by attorneys for Julie Jaman, 82.

“To remedy the unlawful conduct against my client, I demand the following: (1) the City and the YMCA lift the ban against Jaman; (2) the City and the YMCA issue a formal apology to Jaman for their actions against her; and (3) the City and the YMCA pay Jaman the sum of $350,000 for her emotional distress arising out of the incident,” wrote attorney Harmeet Dhillon, with the Center for American Liberty.

The letter was addressed to City Manager John Mauro, Kendra Rosenberg, an attorney with Kenyon Disend PLLC, and Wendy Bart, chief executive officer of the Olympic Peninsula YMCA.

Jaman was permanently banned from the pool in July 2022 after confronting Clementine Adams, a transgender pool employee, in the women’s locker room. The YMCA operates the city pool.

APRIL

Survey results help shape farmers market

The 32nd annual Port Townsend Farmers Market opens Saturday, April 6, with the Jefferson County Farmers Markets cutting a red ribbon, ringing a cowbell and parading goats through uptown Tyler Street.

The nonprofit Jefferson County Farmers Markets operates the Port Townsend and Chimacum farmers markets to support local farmers and artisans by cultivating their communities and providing access to healthy food for all.

On Saturdays from April through mid-December, the Jefferson County Farmers Markets brings 50 to 80 farm, artisan food and arts businesses to Tyler Street for the Port Townsend Farmers Market.

Moratorium on short term

In a surprisingly swift action, Jefferson County has approved a one-year moratorium on new applications for short-term rentals (STRs). The decision, made April 8, specifically applies to Department of Community Development (DCD) permit applications for transient residences and guest houses made available for short-term lodgings of fewer than 30 days. 

According to a brief public press release and discussions with DCD staff, the purpose of the moratorium is to provide county employees with time to evaluate current policies, assess guidelines adopted by similar communities and deliberate on amendments to existing regulations.  While a year has been set aside for this process, DCD Director Josh Peters is quoted as saying the county “is aiming to get a proposal on the table for consideration and action sooner than that.”

The decision to enact the moratorium follows three public meetings held by the county in March.

Breakwater celebration

State and local elected officials are expected to gather at 1 p.m. April 24 to celebrate the completion of the Point Hudson breakwater at the Point Hudson Marina in Port Townsend.

The $14.1 million breakwater and jetty replacement project began in the fall of 2022 and was funded through the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and state and county taxpayers.

Guest speakers include: Pete Hanke, Port Commissioner; U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell; Rep. Derek Kilmer; State Rep. Steve Tharinger; Carol Hasse, Port Commissioner; Wes Cochran, EDA; Nissa Rudh, fish biologist, NOAA Fisheries; Matt Klontz, director of capital projects; and Pam Petranek, Port Commissioner. 

MAY

New principal announced for high school

For the first time in 23 years, Port Townsend High School students will answer to a new voice in the principal’s office.

In a press release Tuesday, Superintendent Linda Rosenbury announced that Sean Moss, the current assistant principal at Blue Heron Middle School, will become the new principal at Port Townsend High School. Moss is replacing Principal Carrie Ehrhardt, who has accepted the Executive Director of Human Resources position with the Port Townsend School District.

Prior to serving as assistant principal at Blue Heron Middle School, Moss was principal of Quilcene K-12 School for six years. 

Challenge over District 1 emerges

City Councilman Ben Thomas has thrown his hat in the ring for the District 1 county commissioner’s seat, the second Port Townsend Democrat to enter the race. Thomas will face Heather Dudley-Nollette in the Aug. 6 primary, according to state election records, and there could be others. The deadline to declare candidacies is until 5 p.m. Friday, May 10. The filing period opened May 6.

Thomas, who has lived in Port Townsend since 1976,  has been the winemaker and vineyard manager at Port Townsend Vineyards since 2016. He has served on the Port Townsend City Council since January 2022.

Spruce Goose to reopen after minor grill fire

The morning of Wednesday, May 8, saw the Spruce Goose Cafe, at the Jefferson County International Airport, experienced a flare-up that’s forced them to close their doors for a bit, but they hope to be back by the time you read these words.

Over on the NextDoor social networking service for neighborhoods, the management at the Spruce Goose posted to alert their customers and the community that the cafe had suffered “a minor grill fire” that compelled the establishment to close to the public “until we can clean up, get a new grill and have the necessary inspections to re-open.”

Conflict over Food Bank management hits new level

Claims and counter-claims continue at the Tri-Area Food Bank, as former volunteers voice concerns about food safety while current association leadership allege theft perpetrated by previous food bank managers.

Former food bank volunteer Penny Condoll contacted The Leader on May 14 about a health department inspection at the food bank. “I’m reaching out to you today because John [Laird, former Tri-Area Food Bank manager] and I now have some really serious current concerns about food safety, limited food supplies for clients and volunteer safety at Tri-Area Food Bank,” wrote Condoll.

What she described as a surprise inspection of the food bank by the county public health department generated ”some pretty upsetting findings,” Condoll wrote. “Huge amounts of stored food needed to be disposed of because of ‘severe rat infestation,’ ‘foods in refrigeration trailer 44 to 45 degrees with doors left open,’ ‘cut fruit in refrigeration trailer was moldy.’”

Patricia Hennessy, executive director of the Jefferson County Food Bank Association, said Condoll’s allegation of a “surprise” inspection was false. “The inspection was not a surprise; it was scheduled by me.”

JUNE

Pothole repairs move forward with new resolve

With the onset of summer, road repair season has begun and crews with the City of Port Townsend have plans to tackle some of the town’s most pesky potholes.

“Long story short, there are so many potholes and the streets are in pretty rough shape given we have gone over 20 years without funding and maintenance,” said Steve King, the city’s public works director. “Thus, the process of repairing our streets is a long process of clawing our way back to sustainable streets.  This means that we will continue to battle potholes.” 

Pride has fresh appeal, happenings, new management

Port Townsend Pride, the June 8 celebration of the visibility, self-acceptance, and equality of the LGBTQ+ community, will have a fresh feel this year. 

It is being hosted for the first time by The Production Alliance, a non-profit organization that “creates opportunities for people to connect through creativity and collaboration, rooted in a strong sense of place.” Olympic Pride, which has run the event since July 2018, dissolved earlier this year.

Fort Worden strategic plan proposes sweeping changes 

A draft of the strategic plan to address longstanding issues at the Fort Worden Lifelong Learning Center — among them an array of options including private development — is available for public comment through June 18.

Celeste Hall, acting executive director of the Fort Worden Public Development Authority (FWPDA), presented an overview of the report, along with its conclusions and recommendations, to the Port Townsend City Council on Monday, June 3.

The current 121-page plan was prepared over about five months by PROS Consulting, which specializes in strategic planning for parks, and by Hall and Mike Sternback, deputy director of Washington State Parks. PROS, which was paid a $60,000 consulting fee for its work on the strategic plan, also worked on the 2008 and 2012 plans. Consultants conducted in-depth interviews with more than 25 “partners, tenants, stakeholders and tribes” in preparing the report.

Besides private and public investment, recommendations include other options for managing the Lifelong Learning Center, redoing the master lease with state parks or taking ownership of the property, and reacquiring concessions and hospitality services. CHM Government Services, which focuses on asset management and public sector hospitality, was brought in as a subcontractor by PROS. 

Former mayor files complaint against city manager

Former Port Townsend Mayor Brent Shirley filed a complaint May 6 against City Manager John Mauro, alleging Mauro inflated his professional credentials to obtain the position and now engages in conduct that has driven away employees and created a hostile work environment for city employees and council members.

“It can no longer be ignored or swept under the rug that the city manager conducts himself with employees, public officials and members of the public in a manner that violates the city’s personnel policies regarding personal conduct and demeanor and prevention of a hostile work environment,” Shirley wrote. “Individuals have left their employment with the city due to his improper verbal behavior, including raising his voice and treating employees in a demeaning manner.”

Shirley, who served on city council from 1980 to 1982, and then as Port Townsend’s mayor from 1983 to 1993, sent his complaint via a 900-word letter to city council and the city attorney. In the late 1970s, prior to serving as mayor, Shirley managed the Rhododendron Festival. He also spearheaded such projects as the construction of the Northwest Maritime Center and began the effort to obtain a long-term lease for the city golf course.

“I make this complaint against City Manager John Mauro out of deep concern for a city I love.” Shirley wrote. “The role of the City Manager is one that demands the highest standard of conduct and accountability. It is the obligation and duty of the council to hold the city manager accountable for how he conducts his business on behalf of the city.”

Canadian team wins Race to Alaska

Team Malolo won the eighth running of the Race to Alaska at 2:36 p.m. (Alaska Time) on Monday, June 17, with captain Duncan Gladman and crewmembers Paul Gibson, Becky Kelly and Matthew Macatee traversing the 750 miles from Port Townsend to Ketchikan, Alaska, in cold waters without an engine.

Team Malolo became the first all-Canadian crew to bring home the first prize of $10,000, in its vessel’s third attempt to win R2AK, on the custom-built Cochrane trimaran, Dragon. Gladman admitted that returning to the race represented “unfinished business for me and for Paul.”

Gladman took the second-place prize of steak knives on the same vessel as part of Team Pear Shaped Racing in 2019, after which he and Gibson dropped out of the 2022 race as a DNF (Did Not Finish) due to serious damage from a log-strike at high speed.

“We’ve said a lot about Team Malolo and their vessel Dragon hitting logs in years past,” Race Boss Jesse Wiegel said. “And it’s true that logs were the story of their previous two attempts. But Duncan and crew have broken the curse!”

JULY

Land Trust purchases 853-acre Chimacum Ridge

Jefferson Land Trust has purchased 853 acres of Chimacum Ridge, permanently protecting the land from development and preserving its ecological integrity, an acquisition it has worked on for nearly a decade. This is its most purchase to date. 

In 2013, Jefferson Land Trust recognized Chimacum Ridge as an at-risk forest for clear-cutting and development and envisioned a plan to purchase the land and establish the Chimacum Ridge Community Forest. Officials at Jefferson Land Trust say it ensures the community forest will remain a safe wildlife habitat and maintain healthy forests and wetlands.

The Land Trust also owns the adjacent Valley View Forest Preserve, which pushes the new protected land mass to 918 acres.  

Field Day at Fort Worden

Over 1,000 people flocked to Fort Worden on Saturday, June 29, to kick off the summer in style at the third annual Port Townsend Field Day.

Presented by The Production Alliance and Fort Worden Hospitality, Field Day at Fort Worden was the summer’s kickoff event. For the first time, the festivities commenced from Littlefield Green. Traditionally, the event was held at Fort Worden Parade Grounds.  

Director of Operations Daniel Milholland explained the decision to move the event to Littlefield Green was made with accessibility in mind.

“The new location was chosen primarily for its existing infrastructure: power, a fenced-in event area, and easy access to parking. Centrum has also set up some large event tents in Littlefield Green for the summer so there is built-in weather coverage in case of showers,” Milholland said.

City Manager admits resume went unvetted

The two complaints about Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro have come to a standstill for now as the complainant, former mayor Brent Shirley, has yet to bring forward evidence to support his allegations, according to Port Townsend Mayor David Faber.

Shirley sent a letter to city council on May 6, alleging Mauro embellished his professional credentials to obtain the position and now engages in conduct that has driven away employees and created a hostile work environment for city employees and council members. Shirley alleges that Mauro’s conduct has also been directed at Port Townsend citizens.

“Brent has not provided more information,” Faber said. “His letter is entirely vague and has no specifics. We are waiting to hear something from him to substantiate these claims. This is salacious rumor, that’s all this is at this point, until it’s justified.” And until then, Faber said, city council will not move forward with Shirley’s request for an investigation.

Separately, Mauro acknowledged for the first time that his credentials may have been embellished, including an overall number that combined individual budgets, which suggested greater responsibility. However, that was done by the headhunting firm hired by the city to find a new manager. “I’m told by those in attendance that the consultant put together a one-page summary of my resume for a community event in June 2019 that was part of the interview process — and that summary was not vetted by me,” Mauro said.

Report inspects mill stench

A federal government report on the contaminants in the air around the Port Townsend paper mill was issued June 24, showing that such contaminants were present in the air in high enough concentrations to cause adverse respiratory effects.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry conducted an exposure investigation in the fall of 2018 to measure people’s exposure to contaminants in the outdoor air near the Port Townsend Paper Corporation.

The 84-page report was published June 24 of this year, and presented to the public at the Pope Marine building by ATSDR on July 10.

AUGUST

City considers dissolution of Fort Worden PDA

The Port Townsend City Council voted Aug. 5 to schedule a public hearing to consider dissolution of the Fort Worden Public Development Authority (PDA), thus initiating a process that, if finalized and ultimately approved, would end the organization’s 50-year lease with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to operate the Lifelong Learning Center at Fort Worden State Park.

According to discussions, the hearing could occur on Oct. 7.

City staff and council members said their approval would start a process that could help ensure a smooth and orderly transition of park management into the state’s hands, while describing the alternative – letting the PDA financially unravel – as “crisis and collapse.”

The city council’s decision to move forward with a dissolution hearing follows a request for such from the PDA board during an Aug. 1 special meeting. In a unanimous vote, the PDA board approved asking city council to dissolve the organization, citing financial troubles and unviability of the current management model.

Internet down for north county

Those attempting to access their landlines or the internet in northeastern Jefferson County got an unpleasant surprise on Friday, Aug. 2, when a fiber line was unintentionally cut.

The Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management issued three advisories about the widespread network outage on its Nixle system that day, the first at 12:32 p.m. noting that phone and internet systems had been affected, and adding that PenCom in Clallam County would be answering 911 calls instead of JeffCom, whose non-emergency line was unavailable.

Fair sees increase in entries, attendees

The Jefferson County Fair seems to be on a year-to-year upswing, and its festivities from Aug. 9-11 even attracted at least one notably unexpected guest.

“We had a great fair this year!” Fair Assistant Alissa Gubelman said. “We don’t have exact numbers yet, but overall fair attendance and ticket sales were up from last year.”

According to Gubelman, the Jefferson County Fair drew around 70 vendors, which was also up from last year.

“But the most impressive numbers so far are the entry numbers,” Gubelnan said. “We had approximately 2,000 open entries in 2023, and this year, we had around 2,500.”

Crews work to contain jupiter fire

Close to a week into the wildfire on Mount Jupiter near Hood Canal, firefighters appeared to have reached a standstill in containing a blaze that, at press time, had no known injuries or mandatory evacuations.

Credit for that is largely due to the organized response by the Western Washington Type 3 Incident Management Team, local first responders and widespread community support, all of which worked together to collect food and goods and otherwise help.      

By the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 20, the blaze had burned across 398 acres, the same size it had been the day before.

However, the number of first responders and equipment on the ground increased in that time.  Weather conditions proved to be a mixed blessing, as the Brinnon Fire Department posted on social media on Aug. 18 that overnight storms brought winds exceeding 30 miles per hour, with some rain but less than forecast.

The department’s predictions of heavier fire activity proved correct, and additional resources were ordered.

Norma Brock, public information officer for the incident management team, said there were 415 personnel and equipment units working to support fire suppression as of Aug. 20.

SEPTEMBER

Sewer pipe ‘like mush’ fails, leaves pit in road

A sinkhole appeared on Water Street early on Saturday, Aug. 31, after a failing sewer pipe collapsed, ultimately leaving a depression in the pavement in the middle of the street.

Just after 12:30 a.m., the city began receiving calls about the potential sinkhole located a few feet southwest of the Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry terminal on Water Street. The failed sewer line carries sewage from the Monroe Street lift station to Gaines Street lift station before being pumped to the wastewater treatment plant near Chinese Gardens Lagoon.  

The failed pipe is the main sewage line serving downtown Port Townsend, most of Uptown and Morgan Hill.

Problems with this pipe were originally discovered after an extreme tide in December 2022, when a sinkhole appeared and released sewage into the streets near Gaines and Water streets. The city found that the asbestos concrete pipe was rotting away due to hydrogen sulfide gas emitted from the sewage.    

Washington teacher pay near national high

With the 2024-2025 school year now underway, national and local salary reports indicate Jefferson County teachers, and teachers statewide, are faring better than other teachers in the nation, according to statistics gathered by the National Education Association (NEA).

According to an NEA report released in April 2024, Washington state starting teacher salaries ranked third highest in the nation, with the average state teacher’s starting salary at $55,631 — or $11,101 more than the national average of $44,530.

Nationally, the average teacher salary, according to the NEA, came in at $69,544, while Washington’s teachers earned an average of $86,804. That makes Washington state teachers the fourth highest paid, on average, in the nation.

Commissioner candidates face off in first forum since primary

At the end of a nearly hour-long candidate forum on Sept. 3, Democratic opponents Ben Thomas and Heather Dudley-Nollette described what they would bring to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners if elected in November.

Thomas, a Port Townsend City Council member and winemaker for Port Townsend Vineyards, cited his “ability to see things holistically … and predict what the challenges are going to be before they happen.

Dudley-Nollette, deputy executive director for Bayside Housing and Services, said that while her and Thomas’ values are “really closely aligned,” her experience in project management, human resources, permitting, policy development, budgeting and public-private partnerships sets her apart.

The candidates, both 53, are running to replace Kate Dean as the three-member board’s representative for District 1, the boundaries of which essentially mirror those of the city of Port Townsend.

Industrial park takes shape near airport

The Port of Port Townsend advanced its plans for a 23-acre industrial park near the Jefferson County International Airport at the Sept. 11, commissioners meeting.

During the meeting, the port’s board of commissioners approved the purchase of a 3.4-acre parcel of land as well as the matching funds needed to apply for an infrastructure grant, a move Port of Port Townsend Executive Director Eron Berg said would bring the project nearly ready for development.

With the commissioners’ approval Berg said, “We’ll have acquired and developed all the access, all the utilities to the site and about 90 percent of the plans and permits for the 24 acres.”

Two ethics complaints against mayor move forward

An ethics complaint filed against Port Townsend Mayor David Faber will move forward, in part, following an announcement from the city’s hearing examiner Phil Olbrechts.

“The ethics complaint filed by Reverand Cox (Faber Complaint) is found to have two alleged ethics violations sufficient to move forward to hearing or summary judgment. The remaining four alleged ethics code violations are dismissed as insufficient,” Olbrechts wrote in an order finding partial sufficiency of complaint.

PTFF surpasses pre-COVID numbers 

The 25th annual Port Townsend Film Festival not only surpassed last year’s numbers, it at least equaled recorded pre-pandemic numbers.

That data comes from PTFF Executive Director Danni McClelland, who offered some apples-to-apples comparisons, not only between this year and last year, but also between this year and the last year before COVID hit.

McClelland reported the 2024 film festival sold 7,501 per-film tickets to generate roughly $81,600 in gross sales, while the 2023 film festival sold 6,543 tickets to generate $60,706 in gross sales.

“That’s a big jump,” McClelland said.

The data available from five years ago was measured by different metrics, which McClelland noted in explaining the earlier year comparison: A total of 1,103 passes were sold to the 2019 film festival, while a total of 1,114 passes were sold to the 2024 film festival.

OCTOBER

Fort Worden PDA in receivership

With $6.2 million in unpaid bank loans, efforts to dissolve the Fort Worden Public Development Authority (PDA) ended Oct. 4, when Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Brandon Mack issued an order appointing a general receiver over all PDA property and assets.

Mack’s ruling was in response to a complaint filed by Kitsap Bank against the PDA on Sept. 27. Attorneys for Kitsap Bank objected to the dissolution in the filing, saying PDA owed the bank $6.2 million for previous loans but had no plan to repay the debt.

“The Defendant has admitted its insolvency and inability to function as a going concern,” attorney Michael Gearin of K & L Gates LLP wrote in the complaint seeking receivership.

Hack derails LGBTQ+ books decision

The Quilcene School Board’s Oct. 16 regular meeting opened the floor to discuss what was itemized as “an LGBTQ Library Books Proposed Resolution/Donation,” but the Zoom feed of the meeting was derailed by a hack that broadcast pornography during the public comment section.

Quilcene School Superintendent Ron Moag sent out a letter the following day explaining that the disruption caused the Zoom broadcast of the meeting to be shut down, for which he extended an apology “for having to take those measures.”

Quilcene School Board Chair Jon Cooke confirmed that “some person got control of the screen, and with the large number of people virtually attending the Zoom meeting, our IT guy could not find the culprit, so we had to shut the Zoom broadcast down.”

Lawsuit against county dismissed

After nearly two years of litigation in federal court, former Jefferson County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Julian St. Marie has lost on all her claims, according to court documents filed in late August.

St. Marie filed a 55-page lawsuit in U.S. District Court-Western District on Nov. 16, 2022, alleging sexual harassment, a hostile workplace environment, sex and age discrimination, and libel, as well as that her civil rights under the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments had been violated.

NOVEMBER

Pvt. attorney advises Council: Do something on city manager issue

Local attorney Chuck Henry, in a letter to the Port Townsend City Council dated Nov. 2, has urged the council to take formal action on Brent Shirley’s complaint against City Manager John Mauro, and warning them to not let the matter continue to go unaddressed.

“By doing nothing,” Henry warns, “you will be powerless to defend yourselves from the likelihood of allegations of negligence, compounding any possible damage which may have been caused by the city manager.”

In his letter, Henry urges the council to consider two courses of action. First, Henry suggests that city council, in open session, consider Shirley’s complaint together with any related information it may have, and dismiss it as unfounded. As an alternative, Henry suggests appointing an independent investigator, someone separate and independent of Mauro to determine whether the complaint has merit and requires action by the council.”

Both options, Henry writes, have potential consequences, but he cautions the council against doing nothing at all.

Iconic aquarium set to close in December

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center Aquarium on the pier at Fort Worden State Park will close permanently on Dec. 1. 

“It’ll be a big shift to move gently out of that space and make a high-quality experience just across the street,” said Diane Quinn, the executive director of the science center. “People are very used to having the aquarium out on the pier, and that’s how they identify the marine science center, that place you walk out onto the pier. It’s iconic.” 

The closure is the first step in a more significant effort to streamline the center’s visitor experience by combining wet and dry exhibits in the same space at the museum across the street, Quinn said. 

Mayor Faber cleared

Port Townsend Mayor David Faber has been vindicated on claims he violated city and state ethics rules, following a Nov. 4 ruling from Phil Olbrechts, the city’s ethics hearing officer.

“Judgement is rendered in favor of Mayor Faber,” Olbrechts wrote. “No violations of the City of Port Townsend ethics code are found as alleged in Reverend Cox’s July 15, 2024 ethics complaint as subsequently amended.”

Olbrechts’ ruling came after Cox and Faber, both filed motions for summary judgement. Faber’s motion was granted and Crystal Cox’s was denied. Olbrechts said he will provide a report to city council summarizing the proceedings.

“Crystal Cox’s ethics complaint against me was without merit, either factually or legally, and that was borne out by the ethics hearing examiner’s dismissal of Cox’s complaint this last week,” Faber said. “This was always nothing more than a spurious attempt to attack my credibility by a person angry that I rose to the defense of a transgender teen in our community in 2022. I will continue fighting for the dignity of everyone in our community and won’t be cowed by threats, lawsuits, or other forms of negative attention.”

Council hikes property tax

Hearing no opposition, the Port Townsend City Council unanimously approved a one percent increase to its property tax levy on Nov. 4. 

The increase will bring in $25,989 for the city’s general fund and $12,190 for its library levy, said Jodi Adams, the city’s financial director. 

“The increase is just taking the tiniest bite toward trying to keep up with inflation at the city level,” Port Townsend Mayor David Faber said during the meeting. “Our budget is dependent on us approving this.” 

State law permits municipalities with populations over 10,000 to raise their levy by up to one percent annually without a public vote, provided the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis’ implicit price deflator (IPD) rate exceeds 1%.

The IPD rate due next year is 2.5%, Adams said.

The 2025 property tax levy is estimated at $4.1 million, based on an estimated rate of $1.36 per $1,000 estimated value. The city’s total assessed property value is $2.9 billion. 

The increase will go into effect on Jan. 1. 

Mill’s draft permit would limit chemical discharges, boost testing

The Port Townsend Paper Corp. (PTPC) has embarked on the process of getting a new permit to operate that would limit the amount of dangerous chemicals flowing into area waterways and would add additional testing measures, according to the draft 147-page proposed permit.

Depending on the outcome of a state environmental review and public comment period, including a Dec. 4 hearing at Fort Worden, the mill could face a new set of requirements, among them, testing for the discharge of “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, and the undertaking of an odor minimization study.

“PTPC does not include PFAS in the manufacture of any of our products,” wrote Laurie Magan, communications coordinator for the paper mill, in an email to The Leader. “At such time as additional screening is required, PTPC will collect and submit the required samples to a regulated third-party laboratory for testing. Those results will be public record just as all of our permit submittals.”

PTPC operates an unbleached pulp and paper mill in Port Townsend. Pulp is produced by both the chemical Kraft process and from the repulping of old corrugated cardboard. The pulp is sold or used on-site to make paper products, such as linerboard for cardboard boxes.

DECEMBER

Demand for free Thanksgiving meals up as food costs rise

This Thanksgiving a record number of free holiday meals were served and delivered to the community throughout Jefferson County, and some say inflated food costs have increased demand.

American Legion Post Townsend Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26, Jefferson County Food Bank Association, and Holiday Meals of Jefferson County reported a notable influx of meals served across the county this year, potentially revealing the harsh reality that some citizens may now be unable to afford to cook Thanksgiving dinner.

Holiday Meals of Jefferson County hosted their annual Thanksgiving Dinner Thursday afternoon at the Tri-Area Community Center in Chimacum and served a total of 573 meals, an increase of over 170 meals served in 2023.  

Holiday Meals is unrelated to the JCFBA, which reported distributing 850 turkey and vegan protein options to clients along with other food items, an increase from prior years.

Leading the dinner pass was Ryan Lammers, the vice president of the Holiday Meals organization. He has been on the board for the last four years and was a volunteer before then.

He said there are many reasons why attendance is spiking, but he believes food costs are a significant contributor.

Former PT mayor, civic leader, Brent Shirley dies at 83

Longtime Port Townsend public servant and community activist Brent Shirley passed away on Nov. 29.

Shirley served on city council and as Port Townsend’s mayor from 1981 to 1993. He remained active in civic life and kept connected to various city projects and city hall, keeping in touch with dozens of people he had known over his decades in public services. The last year of his life he was active in a project demanding greater accountability from city council, the mayor and city management, with focus on City Manager John Mauro.

A memorial service for Shirley, who was 83, is scheduled for noon on Dec. 21 at the Northwest Maritime Center, which he played a substantive role in being developed, significantly shaping the downtown waterfront.

“Brent was a pivotal leader both in office and out of office on many important fronts,” recalled Scott Wilson, who was co-owner, editor and publisher of The Leader for nearly 30 years. “Among many other things, he was central to establishing the Northwest Maritime Center at the mouth of the Point Hudson Marina, instead of condos or a hotel.”

David Timmons, who served as city manager from 1999 to 2019, said Shirley had been a big help to him when he first took the job. “He shared a lot of insight into the history of the community, and his concerns for its future, where he saw things happening.” It was information Shirley thought Timmons would benefit from having as he progressed in the new role. “I always cherished that information, and the value that came with it.”

Shirley, who passed away in Port Townsend, was born on March 25, 1941 in Glendale, Calif. Prior to moving to Port Townsend, Shirley served as an Airman 1st Class in the United States Air Force from 1960 to 1964.