SEQUIM — Lee Lawrence, who was fired as executive director of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce after less than six months in the job, “has made a claim against the chamber,” according to an audit of the chamber’s 2007 finances by NFP Accounting of Bremerton.
The audit includes no information about the amount of the claim, since Lawrence was terminated on Jan. 18, 2008.
When the chamber’s board of directors abruptly dismissed Lawrence, then-board president Joe Borden said he had behaved unprofessionally while representing the chamber.
When some chamber members, who formed a group called the Concerned Chamber Committee, asked Borden and other chamber officials for details, they didn’t answer fully enough to satisfy the questioners.
A months-long power struggle ensued, with the CCC demanding the resignation of the board members at an emotionally fraught chamber meeting on Feb. 12.
Lawrence was at that meeting, but said nothing then or since about taking the chamber to court.
One board member, Marife Beeson, did say, “We’re getting sued,” before she resigned her position.
Lawrence, reached on his cellular phone Thursday night, said he couldn’t talk about the claim.
“All matters regarding the chamber have been resolved,” he said.
“It’s all in the past.”
Bill Littlejohn, the new board president, also declined to comment, though he said the settlement with Lawrence would cost the chamber.
“We agreed not to talk about it,” he said.
In a note labeled “contingencies,” the audit states that “attorneys for the chamber have declined to express any opinion regarding an unfavorable outcome or the amount of potential loss as a result of that claim.”
Chamber attorney Alan Millet did not return a call for comment.
Lawrence wouldn’t give the name of his lawyer.
He did say that he’s optimistic about his search for work, and has been interviewed by potential employers inside and outside Sequim.
“There are a lot of people out looking for work,” he added.
