By SCOTT RASMUSSEN

County reporter

The fallout over Alex MacLeod’s dismissal from the San Juan Ferry Advisory Committee continued last week as County Councilman Alan Lichter stepped down from his role as council liaison to the committee and from his position on the recently-created local ferry task force.

“I will be relinquishing both of those commissions,” Lichter informed his fellow councilmen Feb. 12.

The council has yet to pick a successor.

Lichter, echoing an earlier MacLeod recommendation, encouraged his colleagues to “think seriously” about funding a position for support of the ferry committee, the newly-created task force and for local ferry-related issues in general.

A fierce supporter of MacLeod and his four-year tenure as committee chairman, Lichter was the only member of the council to vote against MacLeod’s dismissal following the council’s controversial evaluation of his actions as panel chairman. He said he was “unsympathetic” about the arguments for MacLeod’s removal and that the decision to do so was “completely and absolutely” misguided.

On Jan. 29, the council voted 4-1 to remove MacLeod from the committee largely because of his supposed hostile and belligerent dealings with state officials and his unwillingness to acknowledge problems had been created for county officials or to apologize for it. (Councilman Bob Myhr, Lopez/Shaw, was traveling outside the county Jan. 29 and did not attend the meeting).

A Shaw Island resident, MacLeod had become increasingly outspoken in his criticism of state officials for their handling of the state ferry system. His dismissal has so far prompted two members of the committee, a panel of seven volunteers, to resign and a petition signed by more than 100 islanders calling on the council to reinstate him. Long-time FAC member Ed Sutton of Orcas Island is serving as interim chairman.

Created by the state transportation department, ferry advisory committees have been established throughout Puget Sound. Appointments are made by the local legislative body — such as a county council — and committees provide input to Washington State Ferries about ferry-related issues that affect local communities, including sailing schedules, capacity concerns and possible improvements to localized service.