Public calls for ex-director’s return

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, July 5, 2006

The public had one clear message for the Greenbank Farm leadership during a special Port of Coupeville meeting on Monday: An onsite manager must be hired to fill the vacancy left by former executive director Laura Blankenship. Fast.

Most of the crowd of about 50 also had a clear idea whom they would like to see in the position. They want Blankenship back.

Blankenship resigned in April after a dispute with the Greenbank Farm management group over her leadership.

This week’s special meeting was called after port officials received a letter from the Greenbank Farm Management Group that asked for an extended timeline for negotiations.

Karen Hutchinson, the management group’s vice president, wrote that due to a higher than expected influx of public comment, the board wanted one to two years to complete the negotiation process. The group and the port have started preliminary talks about ending the existing contract for the management of the farm, which is run by the Greenbank Farm Management Group but owned by the Port of Coupeville.

At the meeting, Kelly Sweeney said he is concerned over recent developments since the resignation. Sweeney said the whole ordeal was handled unprofessionally.

Since Blankenship left, the farm has been “a ship without a steward,” Sweeney said.

The actions by the management board were “a breach of public trust,” Sweeney said, and others do not agree that talks should stretch on for two years.

Many echoed his message.

“The first priority should be to get a director here,” said Jerry Mercer.

Greenbank Farm has been on the upswing for the past five years, Mercer added.

“Now, it’s going down,” he said.

Gerry Roberts asked the commissioners to take charge and name an appropriate, workable timeline.

“How long will we, the public, be held hostage to indecision?” Roberts asked.

Some wondered why the management board needed up to two years to resolve operation issues.

And people in the audience warned that failure to make a quick decision may hurt the farm.

Mary Lenhart said investors and donors are unlikely to give money to an organization with an uncertain future.

“This is a crisis,” she said.

“I have experience with fundraising, and you don’t get funds when you’re in a crisis.”

Members of the management board have taken over the duties of day-to-day operations at the farm.

But Barbara Coulter said while farm leadership is busy “micromanaging” the transition, critical issues have fallen through the cracks. Since Blankenship’s departure, invasive weeds have become a problem at the farm. Others said the farm was starting to become unsightly with weeds, dry grass patches and goose droppings.

Several others voiced concerns about upcoming events such as the Loganberry Festival and the Highland Games.

Vendors said under Blankenship’s leadership events went off without a hitch. Now, they are uncertain.

Tom Baenen, president of the farm management board, defended the board’s actions and said that the board members are doing the best they can.

“We have no interest beyond the continued success of the farm,” he said.

Baenen added the board thought that Blankenship’s work helped the farm in many ways, but at some point the work relationship changed.

“There came – how it often is – a parting of the ways,” he said.

Baenen said hiring an interim director is a priority for the board, and the group is currently conducting interviews.

“It’s been 60 days since we started negotiations. That’s a very limited time for a volunteer board,” he said.

Solving problems takes time, Baenen added.

“Our plan is an easier way of division of labor. It’s not going to happen in 60 days,” he said.

Hutchinson, chief negotiator for the management group, said that the board will continue to gather public comment and will work to address people’s concerns about the farm.

Blankenship, the former director, said the transition should take six months. And she hinted that her departure was a surprise.

“I invested my heart and soul in this farm,” she said. “I believe

I was forced out.”

Port commissioners agreed to offer the management group a counter proposal, which would see contract talks completed by Dec. 31.