After being blindsided by the sudden firing of a key employee, the president of the board of commissioners for the Port of Coupeville turned in his own resignation on Monday.

Commissioner Mike Diamanti’s resignation came four days after the other two port commissioners, William Bell and John Mishasek, surprised him with a vote to terminate Executive Director Forrest Rambo.

“The surprise motion to terminate our executive director at the Sept. 29, 2016, meeting is completely at odds with my goals and objectives for the Port of Coupeville,” Diamanti said in his resignation letter.

“Coming on the heels of the resignation of our events coordinator, Kristi O’Donnell, and our financial services provider, Jones Accounting Associates, this motion stops the flow of port operations at a time when a steady hand was required,” Diamanti said.

Diamanti said he believes he is no longer effective as a port commissioner and that Bell and Mishasek have created an “unworkable” situation.

“As president of the board, it has become impossible to facilitate port meetings and efficiently accomplish necessary priorities in a timely manner without support from the other two commissioners,” Diamanti said. “The executive director is having his judgment questioned, is frequently under attack and is expected to fix, resolve and promote all the port’s objectives, which are not, by definition, a moving target.”

Diamanti handed in his resignation and turned in his keys and an iPad belonging to the port district on Monday afternoon.

“My resignation comes reluctantly because of the widespread support I have received from many Central Whidbey residents in the 10 years I have been associated with the Port of Coupeville,” Diamanti said. “My advice to them is that they should consistently ask for explanations for all Port of Coupeville motions, actions and policies and attend port meetings to witness first-hand commissioner behavior.”

Asked to comment about Diamanti’s resignation Monday afternoon, Mishasek said that he wasn’t aware of it.

Asked what he thought about losing the port commission president, Mishasek replied, “I’m not sure we had one before.”

As of press time, Bell did not return a call for comment on Diamanti’s resignation.

A special meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the port office at the Greenbank Farm. The stated purpose of the meeting was to enter an executive session with the port’s attorney and insurance provider to discuss the executive director transition and personnel matters.

Diamanti said he chose to resign prior to the closed meeting so he wouldn’t be burdened with private port information that he would be unable to discuss after ending his time as port commissioner.