Two longtime Port of Port Angeles staff let go

PORT ANGELES – The Port of Port Angeles has terminated two longtime, high-level employees.

Pat Dejas, properties manager – who oversaw at least 33 tenants – and Susan Bauer, planning manager, were escorted out of the office by other port employees on Monday morning after they arrived for work.

The move is “part of a long-term strategic reposition of the port’s assets, both physical and human assets,” said John Calhoun, port commissioner from Forks, on Tuesday.

Calhoun said that Executive Director Bob McChesney recommended the action to the commission “about two or three weeks ago in an executive session.”

“We have a need for a different set of skills,” Calhoun said.

“It’s nothing involving their job performance.”

Both Deja and Bauer refused comment on Tuesday, citing employment separation agreements they had signed.

Both McChesney and Deputy Executive Director Dave Hagiwara were unavailable on Tuesday.

Port commissioner president Bill Hannan did not return calls for comment on Tuesday.

Port commissioner George Schoenfeldt referred requests for comment to Hannan or McChesney.

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