Records request sheds light on Gibboney’s status at port, upcoming severance payment

Although former Port of Olympia executive director Sam Gibboney’s separation of service from the port was announced last month, she is still on paid administrative leave until a separation date of Feb. 1, according to records requested by The Olympian.

Her separation of service was announced by the port commission Sept. 19. Shortly thereafter, The Olympian requested the terms of her separation agreement. The newspaper received those records Tuesday evening.

Gibboney is still being paid her regular wages — she recently received a raise to roughly $198,000 — but is no longer earning vacation and sick leave as of Sept. 30, according to the records.

Still, upon separation from the port, the port will pay her for all accrued, unused vacation leave. In addition, the port will pay her a lump sum severance payment of $75,000, the records show.

The terms of the agreement go on to say that after the severance payment, the port will be reimbursed by its insurer Enduris in the amount of $50,000.

Gibboney even has a chance to do a little consulting for the port, according to the records.

“While on administrative leave, Ms. Gibboney will be available for consultation from time to time with the interim executive director or future port director in reference to historic port business matters, but otherwise is requested not to conduct port business or represent herself as acting on behalf of the port except as directed or requested by the commission or interim director,” the agreement reads.

The interim director at the port is longtime employee Rudy Rudolph.

Gibboney, who previously worked at the Port of Port Townsend, was hired by the Port of Olympia in early 2019, according to the terms of her employment agreement, which The Olympian also received.

Her initial term at the port was relatively smooth, but became increasingly rocky after 22 port employees in summer 2022 sent a letter to the port commission, stating they had no confidence in her leadership. That was followed by staff turnover and the expense of saying goodbye to those employees, plus the threat of legal action from a former worker and frustration expressed by a new union at the port about the lack of a contract.

Gibboney later went on medical leave, then extended that leave when the commission placed her on paid leave. Her separation of service was announced by port Commissioner Amy Evans Harding.

“The commission thanks Ms. Gibboney for her years of service and dedication to the port, community and staff,” Evans Harding said.