PORT ANGELES — Craig Fulton resigned from his position as Port Angeles Public Works and Utilities Department director late Friday afternoon without giving notice, City Manager Dan McKeen said Wednesday.
Fulton was told he was being put on administrative leave with pay this week for supervisory performance issues, McKeen said.
“It was due to performance issues within public works, and that’s pretty much all I can say about it,” McKeen said. “There were no legal complications.”
Also recently quitting was Michael Cyr, manager of the City Light Operations Division.
He was put on paid administrative leave four to six weeks ago before he resigned, McKeen said.
McKeen said Cyr’s departure was “not directly” related to Fulton’s resignation.
“I’m not going to get into any of this,” McKeen said.
Deputy Director of Operations James Burke will serve as acting public works and utilities director.
MsKeen said that he and Fulton “had a discussion on Friday, and he was going to get placed on administrative leave so we could have a discussion early this week because it was Friday, and Craig had been contemplating resigning for family reasons prior to that, and Craig did resign effective the end of Friday.”
Fulton said Wednesday he was not asked to resign.
He would not comment on the administrative leave.
“My wife and I had been talking about this for a long time,” said Fulton, 56.
“There are many ways you can do things, and that is how I chose to do it.
“I don’t need to give ‘whys.’
“It’s really not spending time with my family at all, working early mornings, late evenings, weekends,” said Fulton, a retired Navy captain.
“It’s just time.”
Fulton and his wife have two children in the sixth and eighth grades.
Fulton has been public works director since August 2013, when he succeeded Glenn Cutler, who retired.
The annual salary for Fulton’s position is $145,504.
The Light Operations manager position pays $111,496.
McKeen said job descriptions for both positions will be reviewed before replacements are hired.
Fulton has agreed to continue working for the city “in a project specific capacity, providing the city with information on various public works projects and activities while ensuring a smooth transition for the department,” according to a news release on Fulton’s departure issued by City Clerk Jennifer Veneklasen.
Fulton said Wednesday that city officials had not determined what he will receive in severance pay.
“Dan was talking about some kind of package,” Fulton said.
“I need to be around to help them through some of the projects that are ongoing.”
Fulton said he will explore the possibility of opening a private consulting company.
He was praised in the news release for overseeing the $47 million Combined Sewer Overflow project, the largest civil works project in the city’s history, and the landfill bluff stabilization project, both completed within budget with minimal utility rate impacts to residents, according to the release.
“I’m proud to have served the citizens of Port Angeles over the past five years,” Fulton said in the release.
“I believe I leave the public’s perception of public works as an organization they trust and appreciate, knowing the department will work to resolve their problems and concerns within available resources.”
The agency’s Light Operations Division was investigated by the State Patrol in spring 2016.
The State Patrol determined that no criminal activity occurred.
Two employees at the time, Light Operations Manager George Drake and Warehouseman-Purchasing Agent Sean Hairell, were temporarily suspended without pay.
McKeen said they were disciplined for their roles in misleading detectives who were investigating what employees called the “City Light Slush Fund” comprised of recycling proceeds from publicly-owned, discarded fuses.
The fuses were cashed in for coffee, donuts, a barbecue grill and party expenses including prime rib for employees including supervisors.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
