The Port of Coupeville will go into contract negotiations with the Greenbank Farm Management Group for future oversight of the farm.

The management group submitted the only proposal to the port to manage the farm after its current contract ends in June 2015.

Requests for proposals ended in September.

Commissioners for the port said they felt the proposal was complete and addressed all of the concerns outlined in the request.

The other option is for the port to hire employees and run the farm itself, said Commissioner Bill Larsen, but the port isn’t really in the position to do that.

Commissioners directed Executive Director Tim McDonald to start contract negotiations with Judy Feldman, director of the management group.

Within the proposal, the management group proposes shifting some of the previous responsibilities and financial arrangements back to the port.

In the current contract, the management group signs and collects all lease agreements at the farm.

The new proposal recommends the port hold all leases. The management group would act as a property manager to collect those fees, but they would be deposited back into port coffers.

Commissioners said they hope to have an agreement by the end of the year, prior to McDonald’s departure.