The following opinion is that of one Harbor Commissioner and does not necessarily reflect the views of the full board. I followed with considerable interest, the Review's Dec. 17 story about a possible Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District/Harbor District "swap" involving the Burnham Strip in El Granada. Since the five-member Harbor Commission has not agendized the Burnham Strip, in either open or closed session, for over a year, it came as quite a surprise to read about it in the newspaper.
My phone was ringing off the hook from constituents wanting to know what was going on. For some inexplicable reason, the Harbor District's general manager chose the occasion of a fire board meeting to make a public presentation concerning the Burnham Strip without prior knowledge or majority approval of the Harbor Commission.
|
|
For the district's general manager to infer otherwise calls into question this individual's suitability to continue in his present position.
It is likely that the district will, at some point in the future, make a determination with regard to the Burnham Strip, but not before a series of public hearings are held and all potential proposals, be they from public agencies or private developers, are thoroughly explored.
Constructing a new fire station on the northernmost portion of the Burnham Strip, dedicating the remaining acreage as open space and reclaiming the existing fire station property for a more lucrative commercial lease, is an interesting concept worthy of examination. But there are other alternate proposals that may equally satisfy the harbor district's need for additional revenue, while proving more compatible with the hopes and aspirations of Coastside residents.
The district has owned this undeveloped land parcel for many decades and the board should have the courage to rein in a general manager who, by all appearances, has decided to bypass the Commission and take matters into his own hands. The last thing the Commission needs is the perception that it is leaning in favor of one proposal when that definitely is not the case.
This property was originally gifted to the district, to be held in trust for the people, and they should have a strong voice in how this land is (or is not) developed.
One point needs clarification: The Harbor District's general manager does not call the shots. The general manager is an at-will employee, which means he serves at the pleasure of the board. He is subordinate to the Commission and may be removed at any time. That having been said, he is still a force to be reckoned with and not to be underestimated.
As the harbor's Chief Administrative Officer, he is in a strategic position to exert influence over certain commissioners to rubber-stamp his personal agenda.
By appearing as a representative of the Harbor District and making a presentation at the Dec. 11 Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District board meeting without full Harbor Commission authorization, the general manager has effectively damaged the reputation and undermined the authority of the Harbor Commission, the duly elected body charged with making policies and decisions for the district.
To restore confidence in this public agency would require a change at the top. The solution would be to replace the present general manager with an intelligent, ethical and compassionate administrator who understands the Harbor District's chain of command and is willing to work within its parameters.
Unfortunately, the district is known for rewarding incompetence at the highest level, so instead of being fired for insubordination, this general manager will probably be offered a new (and more lucrative) contract that he, himself, has a hand in writing (again!).
Ken S. Lundie
San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner
w