By Mark Edward Nero
The hiring of former Port of Longview head Ken O’Hollaren as the new executive director at the Port of Port Angeles is now official. The hiring was approved during the Port Angeles board’s March 11 meeting, and goes into effect April 1.
He was the only candidate interviewed for the job.
O’Hollaren, who had been serving as the board’s interim executive director since last August, is to be paid $145,000 annually, which is nearly $10,000 more than O’Hollaren earned during his last year at the Port of Longview in 2012 and $7,000 more than his predecessor at Port Angeles made.
O’Hollaren takes the place of previous executive director Jeff Robb, who resigned under odd circumstances last June, but temporarily remained on the payroll in a newly-created position.
O’Hollaren, who retired at the Port of Longview at the end of 2012 after a 32-year career, was brought on to be the Port of Port Angeles’ interim executive director in July 2013. His hiring came about after the sudden resignation of Robb in June 2013, with “health issues” cited as the reason.
However, immediately after the resignation, the three-member commission appointed Robb to the newly-created position of director of environmental affairs, a job paying the same salary as when he held the executive director post.
Port Commissioner John Calhoun eventually revealed that Robb was given the job because the port feared the potential of a lawsuit over a dysfunctional relationship between Robb and senior staff members.
Robb later announced his retirement.
O’Hollaren, who still lives in Longview, which is about a three-and-a-half hour drive from Port Angeles, says he and his wife plan to relocate to an area closer to work. He is expected to receive up to $10,000 in relocation costs from the port.
