The Port of Coupeville commissioners voted today 2-1 to “terminate negotiations with the Greenbank Farm Management Group” and assume direct management of the farm beginning Jan. 1.
“This question was not on the agenda, it took us, the community, and one of the Port Commissioners by surprise,” the farm stated on their Facebook page. “We don’t believe this action will stand.”
Commissioner Mike Diamanti, who was the dissenting vote, said he was “flabbergasted” with the decision Wednesday afternoon.
“To say it was a surprise was a huge under statement,” Diamanit said. “It was completely out of the blue. I had no inkling either commissioner felt that way.”
While Diamanti wouldn’t speculate on why his fellow commissioners staged the surprise vote, he mentioned that eliminating the management company would “open the door” for Washington State University to take over, something that has been under discussion in recent months.
Diamanti said that Greenbank Farm Management Group will remain in its position until the end of 2015, meaning that none of the current tenant leases will be in jeopardy of changes or revisions for the time being.
Commisioners Marshall Bronson and John Carr could not be reached for comment.
