PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Downtown Association board has elected Jack Harmon as interim president in the midst of an extended, vigorous debate over the board’s relationship with its members.
Harmon, president of Expeditions NW in Port Angeles, was unanimously elected Monday evening at a downtown association board meeting that included sharp discussion over roles played by rank-and-file members of the group — known as PADA — and the board.
Ten of 13 board members were present at Monday’s meeting.
Harmon will succeed Greg Voyles, owner of Farmers Insurance in Armory Square, who said he resigned July 11 to spend more time with his 3-month-old daughter.
Harmon will fill out Voyles’ term, which ends Dec. 31.
Voyles said his resignation had nothing to do with a no-confidence petition that was signed by 81 business owners — the PADA has 186 members — that was submitted Friday to City Manager Kent Myers.
The signers said they “have lost confidence in the ability of the Port Angeles Downtown Association board and executive director of the downtown association to fulfill the terms of their contract with the city of Port Angeles to strengthen, rebuild and revitalize downtown Port Angeles.”
Myers will meet privately Wednesday, July 27, with petition organizer Don Zeller, owner of Zeller’s Antiques, and Kevin Tracy, owner of Tracy Wealth Management, to discuss the petitioners’ request for a performance audit of the contract, Myers said Tuesday.
The petitioners want the audit to “include the Port Angeles Downtown Association board, the city of Port Angeles and the membership of the downtown association in an open process.”
Downtown association Executive Director Barbara Frederick said after the meeting Monday that she did not know enough about the petitioners’ concerns to comment.
“It’s hard to comment when we don’t know specifics,” she said.
“I don’t think any of these problems are insurmountable.”
Myers’ meeting with Zeller “is intended to identify the contract issues that have allegedly not been followed by the downtown association,” Myers said Tuesday, adding that the city had planned to conduct an overdue financial audit of PADA later this year.
“The city is not going to intervene into any sort of conflict within the downtown business establishment,” Myers continued.
“We are merely here to determine whether or not our contract with the downtown association is being complied with.”
Under that contract, the text of which is available at http://tinyurl.com/pdnpada, the downtown association must fulfill nine requirements.
Contract requirements
Among them, the association provides free customer parking for downtown businesses, which pay a special tax to the city of Port Angeles.
The tax totaled $107,928 from 2008 through 2010 and is $17,655 to date in 2011, according to the city Finance Department.
The city also provides $20,000 annually for PADA to administer the city’s Washington State Main Street Program.
PADA’s executive director ensures program compliance and develops, coordinates and implements programs and activities “to promote, market and enhance economic development and employment opportunities in downtown Port Angeles.”
As part of its Main Street Program duties, PADA also must help existing businesses expand and recruit new businesses to downtown.
Board members who spoke at Monday’s meeting urged petitioners to become more involved in association meetings and activities and wondered aloud why the petitioners did not come directly to the board with their concerns.
“It’s really unfortunate so many people out there have no idea of the time and work we put into trying to create a better Port Angeles,” said board member Melissa Abrams, manager of Rissa’s Barely Consignment.
“It’s too bad the 81 people who signed it never come to the meetings,” said board member Bob Lumens, owner of Northwest Fudge & Confections.
But Zeller said those who signed the petition “have lost faith with the board” and believe board members do not represent them.
‘Your own little world’
“You guys are in your own little world,” he said, pointing to the board’s initial approval of a parking lot sale during this weekend’s Arts in Action festival.
The board rescinded that approval June 30 in response to a different petition signed by 33 business owners.
Those petitioners said the sale in the 100 block of Front Street would shut off parking to customers during what should be a strong weekend.
Harmon suggested Zeller participate as a board member, adding that the association has a newsletter and emails members to keep them informed.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
