PORT IN LEGAL JEOPARDY YET AGAIN?

Jack Miles speaking at 1/31/11 ORCAA ADAGE Permit Hearing

IN DEFENSE OF TERESA REBO

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Jack Miles Mason County Progressive

TO: Constituents of Mason County Port District 216

I trust each and every citizen can see what is really happening at the Port of Shelton and what is being attempted there.

Regarding the letter of censure presented to me at the 7/5/11 Port meeting, please read RCW 42.23. This chapter is about conflicts of interest and using an elected position for one's own gain, or using private information for gain or profit.

So the question becomes, do I stop doing my job as a Commissioner because I am running to retain my position at the Port? If you read the RCW completely, you will ask yourself, where does this apply?

Comments I provided to the local blogs were in response to Commissioners Hupp and Wallitner, and had to do with their not taking responsibility for John Dobson's actions following the firing of whistleblower Teresa Rebo.

My question to the Commissioners was simple, because I wanted to get right to the issue at hand.

The question was: "Do you believe Mr. Dobson was justified in sending harassing emails to Teresa Rebo; coercing her to sign the 'Last Change Agreement and Disciplinary Action Plan'; and then subsequently firing her?" Both Commissioners Jay Hupp and Tom Wallitner responded by saying, "Absolutely." If this were not true, why is Mr. Dobson still employed at the Port of Shelton?

I also found out that Mr. Dobson used Suzanne Michael, the outside counsel and same attorney who hired the investigator to address/whitewash Teresa Rebo’s concerns about the Port for the termination process. This same Suzanne Michael drafted the “Last Chance Agreement and Disciplinary Action Plan” that Mr. Dobson was coercing Ms. Rebo to sign.

Here is some background on the event:

On Monday at 8:21 am, Mr. Dobson sent Ms. Rebo a message to her personal email account, well knowing Ms. Rebo was already at work at the Port, and does not access her personal email account from work. The email stated that Ms. Reob had only until 10 am that same day to sign the "Last Chance Agreement and Disciplinary Action Plan" or she would be terminated.

Mr. Dobson most definitely did not give Ms. Rebo adequate notice that this document needed to be signed by 10 am, June 20, 2011. (This is a good example of how Mr. Dobson operates.) This action by Mr. Dobson was designed to try to establish some sort of pretext critical of Ms. Rebo's conduct at the Port.

I now direct your attention to the November 2, 2010 meeting minutes that can be found on the Port website. There you will find Mr. Dobson referring to Teresa Rebo's job performance "as doing an excellent job".

You don't give employees a raise if they are doing a bad job, right? Ms. Rebo was given a raise within her first year of employment for doing an "excellent job", as John Dobson himself stated.

Let me say this with confidence: Ms. Rebo is guilty of one thing and one thing only. She is guilty of having the highest work ethic and integrity I have ever seen.

I invite you to visit www.masoncountyprogressive.net. There, you can read in more damning detail what I have stated about this issue in the 6/25/11 post titled "Port Director Dobson's Revenge".

Bottom Line: Commissioners Hupp and Wallitner have put the Port in legal jeopardy yet again.

And again, Mr. Dobson has failed to exercise acceptable judgment in the use of taxpayers' money. Perhaps it is time to renew calls for Mr. Dobson's resignation and/or termination.

I also believe the Commissioners need to be held accountable for their "lack of action" after the firing of the valued employee, Teresa Rebo. However, only you, the citizens, can petition to recall Commissioner Jay Hupp and Commissioner Tom Wallitner for their attempts to protect their "friend", John Dobson, and cover up his questionable actions.

Re-elect the only Commissioner who is not afraid to take a stand.

Jack Miles
Commissioner, Port of Shelton
www.WeBackJackMiles.com

Photo by Christine

SHELTON BLOG NOTE:

Jack Miles has submitted a similar statement to the Shelton-Mason County Journal as a letter to the Editor.

Link to Jack Miles' previous 6/25/11 post titled "Port Director Dobson's Revenge": http://masoncountyprogressive.blogspot.com/2011/06/port-director-dobsons-revenge.html