The Port of Olympia Commission voted 2-1 to approve a 4% raise to Executive Director Sam Gibboney’s compensation on Monday, June 26.
The raise, which takes effect retroactively to January 1, raises Gibboney’s salary from $191,227 to $198,876. Commissioners Joe Downing and Bob Iyall voted in favor of the raise, while Commissioner Amy Evans Harding dissented.
Ben McDonald, the Port’s human resources and administrative director, explained that the commission is responsible for determining how much Gibboney should be compensated, as her 2022 performance review is now completed. He added that a raise of 4% corresponds with what was received by the rest of the Port’s employees at the start of 2023.
Before the commission voted, four people spoke during public comments to reject the raise.
Debbie Patton, chair of the Port’s citizens advisory committee, said that it was inappropriate to give Gibboney a raise amid ongoing negotiations with Local 47-B, a union composed of marina and boatyard employees.
“The executive director already makes more than the governor of the state makes. And when we have negotiations ongoing with 47-B that have been going on for more than a year, and these men and women are only making in the $27 range, I just think it's inappropriate to grant a raise to someone who's already making that much money,” Patton said.
“I can't even fathom the thought of giving a 4% raise to somebody that already makes $191,000 when there all these other people that are just scraping by. It's just wrong,” she added.
Jeri Sevier, a former human resources director at the Port, said that she was not allowed to speak about Gibboney as part of her separation agreement but noted that the Port has a turnover rate of 60%.
Ten Port staff employees left in 2021, while 11 employees left in 2022. Three employees have left so far this year.
“That is 24 out of 40 staff who have left in just two years. That is years and years and years of institutional knowledge that is now gone,” Sevier said. “As a former HR professional, I personally have never heard of or experienced such a high turnover in any company, governmental entity, or private business.”
“If your organization has high turnover, you need to spend time and energy replacing top talent,” she added.
Sevier also mentioned that in her 23 years working at the Port, the highest turnover rate she had experienced was just 10%.
Both commissioners who approved the raise said they appreciated the comments but felt that it was appropriate to give Gibboney the raise.
“I just want to appreciate some of the comments we received tonight regarding the executive director’s pay. I just like to reiterate that 4% is the average pay increase for all employees and it's important to reward employees for staying with the Port and doing a good job in their positions,” Downing said.
“I do appreciate the comments made earlier,” Iyall echoed. “I do feel like that in order for us to be supportive of all of our port staff, this is something we should approve.”
Evans Harding voted nay without any comment.
6 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
DHanig
Really? 60% turnover rate in staff and endless controversy in the media? Amazing.
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 Report this
Coug66
Wow!
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 Report this
olyhiker
This makes no sense to me.
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 Report this
JnNwmn
What has the Director done for you? The loss of experienced people. Constant legal fees being paid. Loss of confidence with an abrasive response to a union request by employees. Okay, there is the loss of experienced people. Constant legal fees being paid. Loss of confidence with an abrasive response to a union request by employees. So what has the Director done for you? The money losing logging export contract was extended.
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 Report this
WayTooOld
This is a sick joke, right? It has to be. There is no sane universe in which this would happen.
Saturday, July 1, 2023 Report this
JamesBishop
Another *****,*****,***** problem that the solution never goes to the voting and taxpaying public. The dictators always win and the SOS (same old stuff ) continues.
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 Report this