Seattle port adopts accountability plan

Seattle port adopts accountability plan The Port of Seattle Commission on Monday, hoping to restore public faith in the agency after a damning state auditor's report of port contract practices, approved the initial components of what port officials call their Accountability Action Plan.
   The measures seek to address oversight, transparency and accountability of port staff and set out a code of conduct and protocols for communicating progress on port capital projects.
   The move comes in response to findings in a state audit of the port's contracting practices released in late-December that blasted port officials and staff for squandering $97.2 million of taxpayer funds on capital projects over the past three years. The audit's claims that port officials violated state laws in their hiring of contractors on several large port projects have led to a vocal public outcry against the port, calls from legislators for more oversight, and the launching of a federal criminal investigation into the port actions.
   The nearly 350-page audit also found that port staff hid details of contracts from the port commission, allowed contractors to make decisions reserved for port officials, and claimed that some port staff members impeded audit investigators in refusing to certify the accuracy of the information provided during the audit investigation. In some cases, the audit investigators found that records were altered before being turned over by the port.
   The three measures adopted by the port on Monday seek to strengthen oversight of capital projects by the port commission, establish protocols for regular updates on port capital projects, and set expectations of transparency in port contracting. Commission members on Monday also adopted and signed a code of conduct.
   In approving the measures, the commission also committed to using results of the audit to further improve port accountability and performance.
   In other action, the commission also changed the time of regularly scheduled commission meetings to Tuesdays at 4 p.m. ' Keith Higginbotham