PORT TOWNSEND — The Port of Port Townsend’s executive director, Sam Gibboney, received a $10,000 raise after a unanimous vote from port commissioners following Gibboney’s first annual performance review.
Gibboney was hired 14 months ago with a salary of $122,400, which is low compared to salaries of other executive directors from ports of similar size, according to staff.
Gibboney’s new salary of $132,400 per year is still low compared with the Port of Chelan’s, which is $135,000, staff said.
That’s nothing compared to Port of Skagit Executive Director Patricia Botsford-Martin, who earns a salary of $184,000 per year, staff said.
Gibboney said port staff gathered data on the salaries of executive directors from ports of similar size and operating style to give port commissioners an accurate comparison for Gibboney’s raise.
“Port districts really vary in how they operate,” Gibboney said.
Port Commissioners Peter Hanke, Brad Clinefelter and Steve Tucker voted unanimously in favor of the raise for Gibboney, according to the minutes of the Aug. 9 meeting.
Gibboney’s raise was implemented effective Aug. 16.
Gibboney is the first woman to hold the executive director post for the Port of Port Townsend.
Gibboney said that in the past year, the port has renewed its focus on capital projects.
In particular, Gibboney said she was proud the port was able to identify and pass the Boat Haven levy in a timely fashion to avoid more destruction to the levy and the marina in the future.
“Any of my accomplishments are the accomplishments of the team,” Gibboney said. “I don’t do any of this alone. Really, it’s all about just rallying a team.”
Gibboney said the port also has worked to implement a new stormwater system. The port is expected to call for bids this week.
The original cost of the project is an estimated $1.2 million to $1.8 million. The project has been redesigned, and Gibboney said the port should be able to complete the project for less than $400,000.
Gibboney said the next big project for the port will be replacement of Point Hudson levies, which will be expensive.
The port plans to work with the city of Port Townsend and other organizations to find a joint solution to the problem.
“I think we’re off to a good start,” Gibboney said.
Gibboney earned a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Washington before heading to Alaska, where she was a contractor with the U.S. Navy.
She began her own private engineering firm and worked in Jefferson County for roughly 20 years.
From 2013 until she was hired by the Port of Port Townsend in May 2016, Gibboney worked in San Juan County as the director of community development, director of environmental services and deputy director of public works.
She replaced Larry Crockett, who was the Port of Port Townsend executive director from 1999 to 2016. His salary was reported as $127,590 in 2014.
Gibboney will have another performance review at roughly the same time next year.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
