PORT ANGELES — Funding for the Clallam County Economic Development Council and the actions of its executive director were criticized at a business group meeting Tuesday at which Clallam County Commissioner Bill Peach defended the EDC and its leader.
Peach, a Beaver Republican elected in November, was the featured speaker at the weekly breakfast meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association.
“The thing is, the EDC has been largely dysfunctional,” Dick Pilling, Coldwell Banker Uptown Realty real estate agent, said during a question-and-answer session following Peach’s 20-minute presentation.
“There’s been a lot of activity, a whole lot of activity, but very few accomplishments.”
Peach had supported giving the EDC $500,000 over three years to hire two new staff members who will work under EDC Executive Director Bill Greenwood.
The sales-tax-generated Opportunity Fund proceeds would have been spent on increased EDC staffing.
The plan was spearheaded by EDC board member and county commissioners’ Chairman Jim McEntire before being dropped — under harsh criticism — in favor of a proposed allotment of $150,000 from the county general fund for 2015 that has been supported by Peach.
McEntire has proposed subsequent payments of $200,000 in 2016 and $150,000 in 2017.
“What is the staff going to do?” asked Pilling, also Clallam County Republican Party chairman.
“And more important, what are the deliverables?”
Peach took a wait-and-see attitude on signing a contract as he outlined his position to two-dozen breakfast meeting participants.
Up for discussion
“I will not approve use of the money without a clear understanding in the contract of what the monies are going to be spent on,” Peach said in response to Pilling.
“I am looking for exactly what you are looking for.
“I want to see a contract with deliverables that are specific, attainable and timely.”
The 2015 EDC funding plan will be discussed at a March 24 county commissioners public hearing at 10:30 a.m. at the Clallam County Courthouse.
Peach said that in the next 12 months, it will become apparent if the EDC is capable of fulfilling its goals.
“If they are not, I’m not interested in funding them in the future,” he said.
Kaj Ahlburg, a retired investment banker and the EDC board representative for the Port Angeles Business Association, or PABA, told breakfast meeting participants that EDC members were sent ballots Monday asking for an advisory vote on new bylaws and on cutting the board from 28 to 17 positions.
The board could make the final decisions on the bylaws and restructuring of the board at its next meeting March 19 at 10:15 a.m., Greenwood said Tuesday in a later interview.
The meeting will be at the North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center, 905 W. Ninth St. in Port Angeles.
Peach, a former EDC board member, also stood up for Greenwood at the PABA meeting.
Andrew May, owner of Mayflower Horticulture and PABA’s program and public relations chairman, took Greenwood to task for not attending public meetings during the year Greenwood has headed the EDC.
“I haven’t seen him at a myriad of meetings,” May said, adding that he has been trying to get Greenwood to talk to PABA for a year.
May said Greenwood also does not attend Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce meetings and did not attend a county commissioners’ meeting at which commissioners discussed giving money to the EDC.
Not at meetings
“The focus of Bill’s position is not to participate in public meetings, and that’s an indication of where his strengths are, and they are not in working with public organizations,” Peach responded.
“Is he a politician? I don’t think so.”
Greenwood, who was not at the PABA meeting, said Tuesday that he will not attend the March 24 commissioners hearing unless he is invited.
“I have very little experience working with public organizations,” said Greenwood, a former investment banker and former manufacturing company owner.
“I’m a business guy.”
He said he has made presentations to Port of Port Angeles commissioners, the county commissioners, the Port Angeles and Sequim city councils, and Clallam County Public Utility District commissioners.
Greenwood, a Sequim resident, also will make a presentation to the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce in April.
“I’ve spoken in public to every public funding partner we have,” he added.
Greenwood is under an $80,000 full-time, at-will contract with the EDC.
He said he expects to discuss his contract further with board members this spring.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
