Port of Seattle calls special public meeting to discuss controversial payouts
Port of Seattle commissioners have scheduled a special public meeting Tuesday to discuss the Washington State Auditor's Office probe into $4.7 million in payouts to 642 employees.
The Business Journal revealed Friday that former CEO Ted Fick resigned amid a state investigation that flagged the payouts as an unlawful gifting of public funds in violation of the Washington state Constitution.
Port Commission President Tom Albro defended the one-time payouts, which were unanimously approved by commissioners in 2015. Albro said Port of Seattle attorneys authorized the payments before they were paid.
The payments weren't legal bonuses because they were not tied to any work performance objectives or goals, the auditor's office said, urging the Port of Seattle to determine if the employees need to repay the bonuses.
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