By Investigative Reporter Linda Sutter – April 7, 2025 The Harbor Commission has once again come under scrutiny for its use of special meetings, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. Earlier this year, the Commission adopted a resolution to change the schedule of regular meetings to the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2:00 PM. This adjustment was made to accommodate the Harbormaster's inability to prepare agendas and supporting materials in a timely manner. However, as we enter April, it seems that Harbormaster Mr. Rademaker is still struggling to meet the 72-hour notice requirement for agendas and board materials. Instead of addressing this issue within the framework of regular meetings, he has resorted to calling special meetings—such as the one scheduled for 1:00 PM, just an hour before the regular meeting. These special meetings lack urgency or extraordinary circumstances, which are the intended purposes of such gatherings. Instead, they appear to be a tactic to bypass transparency and limit public engagement. For example, last week saw a special meeting on April 1st, followed by a regular meeting on April 2nd. This pattern forces residents to constantly check the Harbor District’s website or drive by the office daily to stay informed about potential meetings—a burden that few can realistically manage. The new commissioners seem indifferent to transparency, and their actions make this lack of accountability glaringly obvious. The question now arises: should there be a recall of this administration? Three commissioners, elected by a party, have demonstrated a lack of knowledge about conducting meetings and have consistently allowed transparency to erode. Their disregard for the laws they swore to uphold has led to frustration and legal challenges. Yet, they seem more concerned about lawsuits than about adhering to their responsibilities. This month marks the beginning of a recall process aimed at removing these commissioners from office. Their actions have misrepresented the Harbor, ignored legal obligations, and jeopardized what remains of this vital institution. It is time for the community to demand accountability and restore integrity to the Harbor Commission.