Opinion and Commentary by Samuel Strait It is quite often difficult to tell exactly who is running the show at the public meetings of the Harbor Commission, for a show it is indeed. After over a year of "negotiations" with Alex Lemus, and his company Renewable Energy Capital, one would think that either a deal would be struck, or the Harbor Commission would be looking for something in an RFP that would satisfy. As much as Harbor Master Tim Petrick insists that the deal has been made and all that needs to happen is for "some language" to be worked out, something is not right with this deal. As such, on Tuesday past, Rick Shepherd at the Harbor Commission meeting set to vote on the two leases in question, pulled the vote from the agenda and delayed that part until yet another meeting is held on Friday, April 8th at 2:00 pm. During the fireworks on Tuesday, Kay Fry of On Site Development stood by her company's statement that there was nothing inappropriate with the harbor commission hearing her proposal, as no action was to be taken. She continued by stating that offering an alternative to Lemus's proposal was only sound business practice. She then went on to address a rumor that apparently originated with Harbor Master Tim Petrick's efforts at "due Diligence" where he checked into a project claimed by On Site in Nashville Tennessee. According to Petrick, On Site Development was not responsible for the project that they claimed to have completed. The question at that point is, which story is true? Often, the public bureaucrat is given the nod when it comes to fact or fiction, yet why would the harbor master have e-mailed local resident Linda Sutter, certainly not a friend of the harbor master? And why would Harbor Master Petrick even bother to do "due diligence" if the proposal was not going to be heard? Of course no one bothered to ask those questions of the harbor master, after all he was only trying to keep the "information" private to spare the "young lady a reputation of misrepresentation". Efforts to contact Miss Fry for additional information have thus far been unsuccessful and will appear in a future article in the CCTimes with her side of the story if she becomes available for comment. In the mean time, the Harbor Commission needs to put a muzzle on Harbor Master Petrick when and if it comes to decision time and let the Commission make the decisions. After all, that is what they are there for….. Before the next "Special Meeting", there are five commissioners that need to be very careful if they are going into business with Mr. Lemus if it has taken this long to cut through the fantasy world that he has spun to determine if the current project has any more chance of being successful as the solar power project wasn't. Having lived here for most of my adult life, Mr. Lemus's proposal does not measure up in any way that relates to normal activity during the summer tourist season. High end luxury cabins, plush landscaping, and Airstream mobiles make uncomfortable bed fellows with what would typically occupy spaces in the harbor RV parks. In winter forget it, not when a hotel stay is the alternative. Miss Fry and her Uncle have a much better feel for what is possible on the surface, and it was a huge mistake on the harbor's part not to at least hear what they had to say. Luxury tourism and a commercial fishing port are worlds apart and not likely on many high roller lists as a destination spot. The current tenants would keep the parks alive with their income to the harbor. Empty seasonal spaces do not. The Harbor Commission would be wise to open up ears and listen to what clearly has escaped them if they are even willing to think Renewable Energy Capital is a "good idea". The Commission would be wise to come back to earth and pass on a deal with Lemus and Company before it ends up costing the harbor with another costly mistake…. I suppose on Friday we will learn if any one was listening……