In a 2-1 vote, the Port of Bellingham commissioners voted to remove executive director Rob Fix during its June 3 regular commission meeting. Director of maritime Tiffany DeSimone was appointed as interim director. Fix did not attend the commission meeting.
Commissioners Michael Shepard introduced the motion and Ken Bell voted in support of it, while president Bobby Briscoe was opposed to removing Fix.
There had been no previous public indication that commissioners Bell and Shepard were unhappy with Fix’s performance and they praised him for the job he has done. They gave no reason why he was being let go apart from offering vague justifications about going in a “new direction” and “new opportunities.”
“We have been through some very tough times, including Covid, with the executive director, and he did an amazing job,” Bell said. “We’ve never had a budget that hasn’t met its target … his integrity is beyond reproach.”
The separation appears preplanned as the port’s attorney confirmed during the meeting that Fix had already seen a draft of the separation agreement. Shepard’s motion initially was to terminate Fix’s employment, but after being questioned by the port’s attorney, the commissioners amended it to be a mutual separation agreement.
Since joining in 2008, Fix climbed the ranks at the port, from chief financial officer to real estate division manager, then deputy director before becoming executive director. Before the port, Fix was a partner and chief financial officer for MTM Luxury Lodging & FST Asset Management, as well as chief financial officer at Trillium.
Shepard said he seriously considered the decision.
“Change is not an if, it’s an inevitable,” Shepard said. “I really want to recognize that we have benefitted from years of service and leadership from our executive director. Rob has just done a fantastic job for many years. We also see opportunities for being in a driver’s seat for the next chapters awaiting our organization.”
Briscoe, who represents Point Roberts, Blaine and Birch Bay, voiced support for Fix.
“Rob Fix is one of the main reasons the Port of Bellingham is where it is today, and has jumped all of the hurdles we have during this point in time,” Briscoe said.
The commission began the June 3 meeting with an executive session to review personnel and discuss potential litigation. Commissioner Michael Shepard introduced the motion as the last item of the meeting under regular business. The commissioners went into another executive session before approving a motion appointing DeSimone as acting director.
DeSimone will serve as interim executive director starting June 4 until another director is selected or until further direction from the commission. She will be paid $220,000 per year as she works as both director of maritime and interim director.
Bell and Shepard are running for re-election this year. Shepard is running unopposed while Bell faces opponents in the August primary.
“From my standpoint, this isn’t a reflection on the past,” Bell said. “It’s more a reflection on what we want to see moving forward because it is a new day.”
Fix will receive one year’s salary as severance according to the separation agreement. Commissioners had agreed to extend the severance provision from six months to 12 in December 2022.
[Not all requests for comments from commissioners have been received at press time This story will be updated.]
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