The next month or so will be a time of transition for the Port of Coupeville.

A new executive director will take the helm of the district in December and a new commissioner will start his term in January.

The commissioners for the Port of Coupeville this month approved an employment arrangement for Tim McDonald, who will start his tenure as executive director Dec. 1.

The one-time Island County health and human services director will work as a salaried employee and earn $3,200 a month, or $38,400 a year. He won’t receive any benefits. The agreement doesn’t include a required number of hours, he has to work as long as it takes to complete his duties, current Executive Director Jim Patton said.

McDonald’s contract is slightly higher than what was budgeted for Patton, who earns $50 an hour as a contractor for the port and the port’s budgets $33,600 a year for his salary.

Patton worked for the Port of Coupeville on a contract basis and he carried his own liability insurance.

McDonald, on the other hand, wanted to be an employee with the port so he would be covered by port’s insurance.

The commissioners for the Port of Coupeville approved terminating Patton’s contract effective at the end of the month Patton said. He will serve as assistant executive director for the Port of Coupeville through the month of December. Patton said he will show McDonald the ropes and introduce him to the contacts needed to perform his job duties. Patton will continue to earn $50 an hour.

McDonald’s start date comes on the heels of the general election that places a new face on the three-member board.

Bill Larsen appears to have edged out Patton for the District 2 commissioner seat. Larsen earned 53.04 percent of the vote during the Nov. 5 election. He will replace Benye Weber.

Mike Diamanti, who was appointed to the District 3 seat earlier in the year, garnered 57.09 percent of the vote over Dick Bowen.

A ballot measure reducing the length of commissioner terms from six years to four years, was passing with nearly 92 percent of the voters favoring the measure.

The Island County Auditor is scheduled to certify the results of the general election Wednesday.

McDonald will participate in the Port of Coupeville’s December meeting scheduled at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 11, at the Coupeville Public Library.

For more information about the portw, go to www.portofcoupeville.org