BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Port of Bellingham is considering expanding its commission from three to five members.

The topic was brought up with mixed reactions from commissioners at a meeting on Tuesday, June 17.

The Open Public Meetings Act currently prohibits any two commissioners from having a conversation about port-related business unless it takes place in an open public meeting.

But two commissioners would be able to privately talk if it were to be expanded from three members to five.

Commissioner Ken Bell expressed interest in the idea of expansion.

“It’s incredibly helpful for us to be able to have some kind of a dialogue with at least one other commissioner and I think that’s been lacking” Bell said at the meeting. “So, from my own personal standpoint, I view the three-commissioner structure as a roadblock to adequate communication.”

The commissioners all expressed interest in hearing the public’s thoughts on the potential expansion.

But commissioner Bobby Briscoe warned that expanding the commission and allowing private conversations could politicize the port’s business.

“It is my belief that you cannot be any more transparent than the Port of Bellingham commission is right now,” Briscoe said at the meeting. “And if the people of Whatcom County want that transparency in their port to go away, then add two more commissioners, because that’s what will happen over time. Their commission will become politicized, it will be non-partisan, and the decisions will be made non-publicly.”

The commission will vote on whether to send the issue to the voters at its next meeting on Tuesday, July 15.

If it’s approved, the measure would be placed on the general election ballot in November.