PORT ANGELES — A second public entity will seek to contract with Mark Madsen, the former Port Angeles city manager. for consulting services.
The Harbor-Works Public Development Authority’s five-member Board of Directors voted unanimously — with Bart Irwin absent and Karen McCormick participating via speaker phone — to approach Madsen about a consulting contract at a board meeting on Wednesday.
Madsen was one of the architects of Harbor-Works, said Orville Campbell, board chair and former Port Angeles deputy mayor — and so his knowledge would be valuable to the board.
Harbor-Works is funded by $300,000 in the form of two $150,000 loans — one from the Port of Port Angeles, approved by its board of commissioners on Aug. 11, and the other from the city of Port Angeles, approved by the City Council on Aug. 19.
“We would like to tap into his background and knowledge of prior discussions with the stakeholders,” he said.
“It would not be wise for this new group to go into discussions with the stakeholders without having the benefit of knowing the background.”
Campbell said details of a proposal for Madsen, such as pay, have yet to be sorted out.
Madsen left his position as Port Angeles city manager on Aug. 29, having announced his resignation on July 9, citing “untenable, hostile work conditions” created by certain City Council members toward him and the city staff.
On Sept. 2, the City Council approved a consulting contract with Madsen on a 6-1 vote, with City Council member Cherrie Kidd opposing it.
Madsen’s contract with the city states he can be paid up to a maximum of $31,200 — at a rate of $160 an hour — to provide periodic advice to interim City Manager Jerry Osterman until a replacement is hired.
That is in addition to any tranvel expenses and his severence pay package which paid him about $37,000 even though he voluntarily resigned.
