The Crescent City Harbor Commission has ironed out details of the new five year Harbormaster contract• The contract offered and acknowledged by Harbormaster Mike Rademaker is $114,000 per annum, with a buy out clause of three to six months salary.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');• Rademaker waived his medical benefits package of approximately $16,000 to be supplanted by a housing allowance equal to the medical benefits package.• The contract is effective immediately.The vote to confirm Rademaker’s permanent status was 4-1, with Commissioner Annie Nehmer dissenting. Harbormaster Mike Rademaker File photo Nehmer shared with those in attendance, her belief of the imminent demise of the harbor’s financial status and held Rademaker responsible for contributing to this condition. She said,“ The Harbor is on a trajectory to be bankrupt in four to nine months.” Rademacker has served as the interim harbormaster for six months, effective October 1, 2024 and running through the end of May. During the interim period, the harbormaster has cut expenses and bolstered revenue significantly, as reported in the May 28 Triplicate.Nonetheless, a small group of disgruntled individuals, including Nehmer continue to attack Rademaker for events he could not control or is responsible for. Former Del Norte supervisor Gerry Hemingsen was one of the individuals who called for the dismissal of the harbormaster. Hemmingsen stated from the dias he could see no progress on-going on harbor projects and called for commissioners to curtail the five year contract “down to one or two years.” His comments were preceded by snide comments directed at a member of the audience.Another disgruntled speaker accused Rademaker of lying and misrepresenting the harbor’s dire financial status. And another individual yelled from his audience seat, demanding immediate answers to his questions. His behavior was out of order but not acknowledged by the Board Chairman.The facts are clear.Rademaker inherited massive debt from the loss of the Fashion Blacksmith arbitration case and the natural disaster from the Tsunami, 2011. Both encumbrances drain harbor revenue of approximately $750,000 annually for the next nine years.Harbor financial advisor/ bookeeper Sandy Moreno was candid with her concerns about the dire conditions, expressed hope that the harbor could be saved. Moreno also admonished an audience member… “Why are you suing the harbor and threatening more lawsuits into the future? Why are you doing this? This hurts harbor operations.”The atmosphere of inappropriate audience behavior was palpable. Chairman Gerhard Weber continues to allow a free-for-all atmosphere behavior, allowing audience members to act unruly and disrespectful to commissioners and people in the audience and failing to dismiss individuals who cannot control their disruptive behavior. Weber is not alone in permitting this behavior but is responsible for maintaining order.It is hoped these distractions will cease immediately.On a brighter note, an audience member lobbied for a giant American flag be erected at the Harbor. The Elks came to the rescue and donated a gigantic 6ftx8ft Old Glory which proudly waves at the 101 and Citizens Dock Rd.The Harbor meets again, Wednesday, June 11 at 2pm in the conference room at its Citizens Dock Rd. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });