Editor,

With respect, this transit user disagrees with your Nov. 1 editorial, “Island Transit board should remain” and would like to explain why.

For starters, “There were no financial reports that made clear the pending calamity, no obvious signs of financial failure; the problem was hidden, which is why it also took state auditors so long to catch on.”  Actually editor, as per the state Auditor’s Office (or SAO) audit, I disagree.

Quoting the audit, “The Board and management did not effectively monitor the financial activity of the transit to ensure revenues were adequate to cover increased operational and capital expenditures.” Reading the rest of your editorial I perceive you concur the Island Transit board needs to publicly apologize for their harmful nonfeasance – yet the board will not do so.

For instance, Board Chairman Bob Clay’s ignoble attack on SAO Team Bellingham former director’s Sadie Armijo’s integrity during the Oct. 24 exit conference was an untrustworthy act. I believe the SAO and transit users alike deserve the removal of Bob Clay from office for Clay’s public display of unaccountability.

Then there’s the Martha Rose severance package. As I cannot trust the judgment of any Island Transit board member who agreed to reward an employee who, according to the SAO, could not report their own leave accurately and yet give severance with banked leave to an executive director who failed to adequately safeguard Island Transit from fiscal harm I support Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley’s efforts for a new Island Transit board.

Furthermore, as a transit-using taxpayer whose federal, state and local taxes Island Transit draws upon, I also submit Mayor Dudley’s growling for taxpayers and transit users alike is ideal to the point of inspiring our fellow Republicans to embrace transit.

Respectfully,

JOE A. KUNZLER

Sedro-Woolley