Port of Coupeville commissioners listened in silence Wednesday when they heard the news.

The management group of Greenbank Farm had called off negotiations with the port over an early end to the management contract for the farm.

“They changed their minds,” port director Jim Patton said.

In a letter hand-delivered and read to the port at their regular meeting Wednesday, Tom Baenen, president of the Greenbank Farm Management Group, and vice president Karen Hutchinson said talks about a new contract would not continue.

The letter said much work remains to be done on a realignment of operations at Greenbank Farm, and the farm has been working through its busy summer schedule.

News of the decision caught at least one commissioner off guard.

“Yes, I would say it was a surprise because I don’t understand how this benefits the farm,” said port commissioner Ann MacDonald.

“However, that is their right under the agreement, although a little advance notice would have been helpful,” she said.

“I was more apprehensive, not surprised,” said commissioner Bruce Bryson.

“We had made it clear we wanted to proceed in a timely manner; we felt that was in the best interests of the port, management group and Greenbank Farm,” Bryson said.

In the letter, the Greenbank Farm Management Group said talks might begin again at some future point.

“When the environment is conducive and the (Greenbank Farm Management Group) is better prepared to resume discussions to this end, we will look forward to reopening formal discussions with the Port of Coupeville,” the letter said.

It was an unexpected early end to negotiations that had been first suggested by the farm’s managers.

In April, the Greenbank Farm Management Group asked the Port of Coupeville to start negotiations on an early end to its lease and management services contract. The port owns Greenbank Farm, a popular tourist attraction, while the Greenbank Farm Management Group is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the farm.

Originally, the farm board envisioned the port assuming a much larger role in property management — dealing with tenants, maintaining the landscape, buildings and other public facilities.

The farm group would focus primarily on community development and events, such as the Loganberry Festival and today’s Highland Games.

Initial talks over a new contract were overshadowed by the resignation of Laura Blankenship on April 20, however.

Then, in June, the farm’s management group asked for a 12 to 24-month extension on talks over a new management agreement.

Port of Coupeville commissioners, though, had hoped to wrap up negotiations by their budget meeting Oct. 3, with the current contract ending Dec. 31, 2006.

“We asked them for an extension detailing what we considered to be good reasons; they replied the extension was unacceptable,” Baenen said.

“So we decided this was the best course for us per the terms of the agreement,” he said.

The farm management group said they talked about the port’s suggested timeline at their last meeting. The management group now says it wants the 10-year agreements to stay in place through 2014.

In their letter to the port, the farm’s management group said it wasn’t feasible to meet the port’s requested timeline, and that the management group will continue to work under the existing lease and management agreements that expire in 2014.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or e-mail jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com.