Editor,

Recent discussion of Island Transit finances confuses the state audit report with the separation agreement for the previous executive director.

The official state audit report covers 2013 and part of 2014 and recommends more careful definition and tracking of paid leave (sick leave, vacation time, and compensation time). It did not document any “theft” of sick leave, vacation time, or compensation time; rather it recommended better documentation of these categories for all salaried personnel, which has been instituted immediately. Unfortunately, the Audit Report did not mention that accrued vacation days for 2013 and 2014 for the former executive director can and do accurately account for the longer dates out of the office in 2013 and 2014.

The separation agreement with the previous executive director, Martha Rose, was drafted by legal counsel, in consultation with the Washington State Transit Insurance Pool (WSTIP) in October 2014. It included carefully calculated benefit obligations set forth in Island Transit’s Personnel Policies, including payouts for unused sick leave and vacation subject to maximum caps on payouts as provided in these policies. Due to 25 years of employment with Island Transit, Martha Rose had accrued considerable sick leave and also vacation hours going well beyond the caps. The settlement did not reimburse these above-cap hours. Amounts paid out in the separation agreement were contractual obligations pursuant to Martha Rose’s employment agreement and personnel policies that apply to all Island Transit employees.

Upon the recommendation of legal counsel, the separation agreement was accepted unanimously at the October 17th meeting of the Island Transit Board.

JIM SUNDBERG

Langley City councilman,

Island Transit board member