MINUTES FROM THE EMERGENCY PORT COMMISSION MEETING OF THE PORT OF HOODSPORT COMMISSION TO DISCUSS THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK
March 20, 2020 Call to Order: 3:00pm Adjourned: 3:30pm
Meeting Held at: via telephone conference meeting
Roll Call: Commissioner Petz – Commission Chair, Commissioner Brazil , Commissioner Booth
Staff Present: K. Wyatt, Executive Director
The Port of Hoodsport commission unanimously approved Resolution 2020-01 declaring an emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic via telephone conference on 3.20.2020.
Resolution 2020-01, was put in place and approved in a special meeting on a Friday, the resolution is in line with the Washington Public Port Associations suggestion and similar declarations from Washington Port agencies. A timeline of events leading up to the COVID-19 outbreak, Governor Inslee’s mandates, public health safety guidelines by the Federal, State and local governments were taken into consideration and the following protocol was inspired.
The Resolution 2020-01 positions the Port of Hoodsport to respond to the COVID-19 virus-related needs without following statutory requirements. It also may allow access to state and federal grant resources if needed, said Port Executive Director.
The resolution establishes the executive director as the head of the Port’s response to approve necessary and routine actions, and allows the Port to waive competitive bidding requirements in order to address needs, employ temporary workers in the event of a federal, state, local government and agency emergency situation or in a situation such as government commandeering.
It also can exempt meeting notice requirements and locations, though all three commissioners say said they couldn’t imagine exercising that option.
The meeting was convened with the three commissioners and Executive Director via teleconference to be in compliance with mandatory social distancing requirements. A notice was posted on the Port of Hoodsport’s office window inviting the public to attend the special meeting at the port office as long as social distancing guidelines were practiced while the director communicated with the commission via telephone. No one from the public was present.
Next Meeting:
The Port commission cancelled the March regular port commission meetings, will reevaluate future meeting dates and explore options to convene for meetings other than physically. The Port of Hoodsport commission will continue to comply with federal, state, and County mandates and guidelines as the COVID-19 outbreak unfolds.
ADJOURN:
Commissioner Brazil made a motion to adjourn the Regular Port Commission meeting, Commissioner Booth seconded, it was unanimously approved, the special meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m. Commissioner Petz Commissioner Brazil Commissioner Booth