Glasser, Smith resign from Ferry Advisory Committee

Chairman` of San Juans' FAC dismissed; council members cite unnamed officials' complaints of "hostile and beligerent" dealings.

By Scott Rasmussen • April 26, 2008 1:20 am

By SCOTT RASMUSSEN

County reporter

Two members of the ferry advisory committee resigned in the wake of last week’s ouster of chairman Alex MacLeod’s by the County Council.

And one of the four remaining committee members is considering resigning as well, according to long-time FAC member Ed Sutton.

County Communications Manager Stan Matthews confirmed that Charles Glasser of Orcas Island handed in his resignation the day after the council voted 4-1 to remove MacLeod from the committee. Councilman Alan Lichter, Orcas West, the council’s committee liaison voted against the dismissal.

In sacking MacLeod, the council cited his unwillingness to acknowledge he had done “irreparable harm” to the county’s relationship with numerous state officials in both Olympia and at the headquarters of the state ferry system. According to council members, numerous officials complained he had become increasingly “hostile and belligerent” in his dealings at the state level. MacLeod, chairman of the advisory panel the past four years, object to the portrayal without being told who had said what and under what context.

Created by the state transportation department, ferry committees provide recommendations to the state ferry system about sailing schedules, boat capacities and issues involving ferries that affect their local communities. However, those who serve on the committee are appointed by elected officials of the county or region that they represent.

Sutton said Jim Smith of Lopez Island resigned the day after Glasser handed in his resignation. He said both men intended to quit sometime in the near future but that the ouster of MacLeod hastened their departure.

Council Chairman Howie Rosenfeld, shortly after the vote, noted that committee members were fiercely loyal to MacLeod and that he expected several might resign. It’s unclear, Sutton said, how many more resignations could be in store.

“Emotionally, I think we’d all like to quit and just walk away,” he said. “But if we were all to quit the only group that would lose would be the public.”