I remember back in the early ’90s, I’d moved here a few years prior, established my business in the community and built my home to raise my family in Kingston.

I remember going to a public meeting back when we were talking about the first Village Green concept. I remember making a contribution and, what I remember the most, is an elder resident looking right at me and stating, “I’ve lived here my whole life and I’m not going to let some young outsider tell me how to do things in Kingston.”

Move forward to Oct. 30, 2014, to the Port of Kingston’s 2015 Preliminary Budget public hearing.

First off, I am one of only two public individuals at this meeting, and I am the only one to officially sign in to make public comment. I really thought more people or those interested in Kingston’s future would be there. The port’s budget belongs to you and how it is managed affects all of us. It’s the tip of the spear to the economic sustainability and future of the Kingston community.

The preliminary budget is comprised of nine pages of information and 72 line items to make up your $1.6 million Port of Kingston operating budget. The report was presented well by the port’s business manager and, after summation, the port commission chairman asked if there was any public comment and acknowledged that I was the only one signed up to comment.

He gave me three minutes!

Keep in mind, I am the only one there who has signed in to make comment. The port publishes a guideline that for the courtesy of others in attendance limits statements to three minutes. It’s a guideline, not a law. They had just presented a $1.6 million budget. I have spent hours looking it over and have seven areas I would like to comment on, and I’m the only one signed in to speak.

I started my comments, moved at a rapid pace, got into the third item and they cut me off. My three minutes were up; my time to contribute and participate had come to an abrupt end. Bing, bang, you’re done, if you have anything else to say, send us an email, thanks for coming. I guess as a courtesy to myself I had to limit my own participation.

As a business owner, a past president of the Kitsap Homebuilders Association, and a community member who has contributed years to Kingston’s urban planning studies and the school district’s capital facilities committees, I believe I am qualified to read a budget and provide constructive public input.

In my opinion, this type of local government conduct creates public apathy and it shows.

In the Oct. 4, 2013 issue of the North Kitsap Herald, letters to the editor, Commissioner Walt Elliott wrote, “The mission of our state’s port districts.”

Here are the first couple of lines:

“A recent letter stated that a port’s mission is economic development. While that’s an important part, a port’s purpose is simply to serve district residents. Port districts were established so communities could free themselves from private, waterfront monopolies.”

Really? It sure doesn’t feel that way.

Doug Woodside
Kingston