PORT ANGELES — The Port of Port Angeles’s deputy director, David Hagiwara, was fired on Monday.
The unexpected action came after unusual procedural moves.
The port’s board of commissioners temporarily bypassed Bob McChesney, the port’s executive director and Hagiwara’s boss, so the commissioners could do the firing — and also permanently eliminate the job.
Hagiwara’s dismissal was effective immediately.
It was blamed by two of the three commissioners on the port’s financial condition and a “fairly stringent budget year” for 2009.
But John Calhoun of Forks, the third commissioner, said the move was “ill-advised.”
Hagiwara, who has been deputy port director for 10 years, is expected to receive more than $175,000 in severance.
McChesney said he had no comment.
Hagiwara was not available for comment.
In October 2007 — and also under unexpected circumstances — McChesney terminated two longtime, high-level employees, Pat Deja, the port’s longtime properties manager, and Susan Bauer, planning manager.
The firings were “part of a long-term strategic reposition of the port’s assets, both physical and human assets,” Calhoun said later.
