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Shelter Bay residents now have a lot more to talk about on social media or in person. Rick Tanner, hired as the community’s general manager in March, submitted a sharply critical resignation letter to Wendy Poulton, the association's president, Friday, Oct. 28.

The animosity between incumbent board members and the three elected in May is apparent in the letter, which he concludes with: “a faction is going to continue to prevent the board from making decisions on critical issues. I cannot continue under these circumstances.”

His experience: “Some new members seem more interested in disruption than cooperation. They harassed some of the most dedicated board and committee members into resigning.” He continues “Paralyzing the board is bad enough, but they also harass my staff. There is simply no excuse for confronting and publicly criticizing employees instead of coming to me with any complaints.”

Judy Kontos, Dan McCaughan and Nancy Shimeall were elected in May. They responded to Weekly News questions for this story. Kontos writes, the “letter is replete with multiple material misstatements and outright misrepresentation” and she quotes Tanner’s words, above, calling his criticism of harassing, confronting and publicly criticizing staff “100% false and I fully intend to seek a full investigation of this malicious accusation.”

She defends her fellow new board members and Gary Ladd, appointed in August, and criticizes the five board members who made the letter public to Shelter Bay residents for not consulting the entire board, finding it “an apparent attempt to discredit and undermine our positions as stewards of Shelter Bay.”

McCaughan found Tanner’s letter “pejorative and vitriolic” with some of it “patently false and not based in fact.” His assessment of Tanner’s lack of performance is “he seemed unable to get his footing from the beginning … (and) he was not a good fit for Shelter Bay.”

Shimeall agrees that Tanner’s assessments are “incorrect,” and his “not true,” characterizing as doing their job her fellow board members questioning, “requesting information and providing diverse solutions.” She finds his letter harmful and distracting from the community making progress.

Tanner’s response to questions from the Weekly News was to offer “best wishes to Shelter Bay residents and the Swinomish people.” “There was never a dull day,” he wrote.

In her response, Poulton wrote, “We should consider Rick’s perspective and try to find ways to learn from it,” finding his letter “very clear.”

Asked about taking steps for the board to work in unison, Poulton finds progress in working together and doesn’t “think there is a split in board positions, but rather differing opinions about how things should run and who should run them.”

Monday afternoon Poulton sent a letter on behalf of the board to the Shelter Bay Community. She included Tanner’s letter. She wrote it was released with his “permission in the pursuit of transparency.” She finds his views “offer an opportunity for improvement.” Kontos and McCaughan infer that as criticism of them.

Poulton addresses resident social media posted dissatisfaction with Tanner for his residential rental of the Gate House at the entrance to Shelter Bay and accusations that bank accounts were “drained.” She shares that checks require two board signatures.

The “Gate House Renovation and Lease Statement,” an attached file, states the cost estimate to repair the 600 square feet home was $100,000. An agreement was made that the Tanners spend $30,000 on materials and “put in the $70,000 of labor in return for a 2-year lease at $600/month starting July 1, 2022. The market rent when this was proposed was zero – the house was not rentable.” These figures could not be independently verified.

Tanner refers to this in his letter, stating “Unfounded accusations on social media inspired some people to direct their hostility to my home and family. I’ve got thick skin, but never in my career have I had trespassers cursing at me and blowing horns through the gate at all hours.”

The board officers are Poulton, Vice President Joe Hurley, Secretary Monte Hicks, Treasurer Louise Kari, Secretary Pro Tem Elaine Dixon.

Tanner’s last day is Nov. 25.