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PENINSULA DAILY NEWS February 18, 2016 | 75¢
Port Townsend-Jefferson County’s Daily Newspaper
PT port plans on director search
Warm winter play day
Hiring process starting at once BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT TOWNSEND — The Port of Port Townsend commissioners intend to find a permanent replacement for retiring Port Director Larry Crockett themselves rather than hiring a search firm to fill the vacancy. This means the hiring process must begin immediately to fill the position in time for Crockett’s June 1 retirement. “We have already decided to not use a professional headhunter and do this in-house,” Crockett said at a nearly two-hour special meeting of commissioners Wednesday meant to discuss and refine the process. “You don’t want to spend too much time in the search, especially if you want any overlap when I leave.” Crockett, 68, who has held the director position for 17 years, announced his retirement at a Jan. 13 meeting of the port commissioners. Crockett said he will hang around for a while to offer advice. “If it does take a few extra weeks, I’m around, but not to work,” he said.
CHARLIE BERMANT/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Hudson Davis, 2, of Port Townsend enjoyed temperatures slightly warmer than the usual 51 degrees and overcast skies at Pope Marine Park on Wednesday. For the five-day local forecast, see Page A10.
PA names fluoride committee, will study city’s alternatives Council appoints three-member body for ethics complaint BY ROB OLLIKAINEN PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Mayor Cherie Kidd that stemmed from her handling of public testimony on fluoride during a Feb. 2 council meeting. Five of the six council members who were present Tuesday directed staff to coordinate the ad hoc fluoride committee under the direction of council members Brad Collins and Sissi Bruch.
‘Wonderful opportunity’ Board chair Pete Henke said he is optimistic about the recruitment process. “We have a wonderful opportunity here to bring someone in who can take us beyond Larry,” Henke said. “We are looking for someone who can bring diverse groups together in order to work toward a common goal.” On Wednesday, the commissioners discussed a draft recruitment packet prepared by Crockett that is to be refined, approved by commissioners and then sent to applicants who respond to advertisements in local and regional newspapers as well as industry trade sources.
Bridge divide
PORT ANGELES — A majority of the Port Angeles City Council has backed the structure of an ad hoc committee that will look for alternatives to municipal water fluoridation. Meanwhile, the council also Tuesday appointed a three-member ethics board to consider a complaint against Deputy
Collins and Bruch had proposed the committee to “bridge the divide” that Collins Bruch resulted from the council’s 4-3 December our nature, however that may be. But we vote for fluoridation beyond May 18. “This matter has become so divisive,” ought not to end this discussion on such a rancorous and divisive tone.” Mayor Patrick Downie said. “I’d like us to find the better angels of TURN TO ETHIICS/A5
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State short $78 million in funds forecast Less money expected after 2017 BY RACHEL LA CORTE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The state revenue forecast released by the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council showed that the current two-year, $38 billion budget that ends in the middle of 2017 falls about $78 million short of what was originally predicted. The council lowered its forecast for the next two-year budget by $436 million. The projected overall state budget for 2017-19 is expected to be about $41 billion.
OLYMPIA — As lawmakers prepare to unveil a supplemental budget proposal, they learned Wednesday that they have a little less money to work with in the current budget cycle and significantly less money than previously expected for the two years after that. Officials have lowered the state’s revenue projections for both the current two-year budget Lower costs? that ends in the middle of 2017 and the next budget cycle, citing However, officials said the foreweak economic growth, both glob- cast is offset slightly by lower ally and nationally. projected costs related to the
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number of people on welfare and in nursing homes. “We are not assuming a recession, but we are assuming slower growth than we saw in November,” said Steve Lerch, the revenue council’s executive director. “Slower growth nationally and internationally means slower growth rate in terms in purchases of Washington goods and services both in the U.S. and overseas.” One of the issues cited in Wednesday’s forecast was the fact that, for the first time since 2009, Washington exports declined last year. “It’s a tough environment for exporters, and this is clearly going to weigh on Washington’s economy,” Lerch said. Lawmakers are more than
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“We are not assuming a recession, but we are assuming slower growth than we saw in November.” STEVE LERCH Director, Economic and Revenue Forecast Council halfway through the current 60-day legislative session, and House Democrats are set to unveil a supplemental budget proposal Monday.
Education funding Democratic Rep. Hans Dunshee, the main budget writer for that chamber, expressed concern
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that the forecast doesn’t take into account billions that the state needs to spend on education funding. The state is currently under a contempt order by the state Supreme Court for its lack of progress on that effort. Dunshee said he couldn’t say yet whether taxes would be part of the House proposal but said the state will need to be more proactive in order to satisfy the court. “I can guarantee you that we’re not going to grow our way to the McCleary solution,” he said, referring to the name used for the lawsuit against the state. “To some degree, we’ve had ups and downs,” said Republican Sen. Andy Hill, noting that the most recent change is “not enough to break the budget.”
BUSINESS CLASSIFIED COMICS COMMENTARY DEAR ABBY DEATHS HOROSCOPE LETTERS NATION/WORLD
A10 B5 B4 A9 B4 A8 B4 A9 A4
*PENINSULA SPOTLIGHT
PENINSULA POLL A2 PUZZLES/GAMES A8, B6 B1 SPORTS A10 WEATHER