HomeMy WebLinkAbout23-048 Waiving the One Year Waiting Period for the Appointment of a Fort Worden PDA Interim DirectorResolution 23-048
RESOLUTION NO. 23-048
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND,
WASHINGTON, WAIVING THE ONE YEAR WAITING PERIOD FOR THE
APPOINTMENT OF A FORT WORDEN PDA INTERIM DIRECTOR
WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend established the Fort Worden Public Development
Authority (PDA) in 2009 to "manage, promote, develop, secure funding, and enhance the Fort
Worden State Park" and facilitate the implementation of a lifelong learning center at Fort Worden
per Port Townsend Municipal Code (PTMC) 2.84.010(A); and
WHEREAS, the PDA is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Port Townsend
Mayor with the concurrence of the Port Townsend City Council per PTMC 2.84.060; and,
WHEREAS, the PDA Board of Directors appoints an executive director who manages the
daily operations and administration of the PDA; and,
WHEREAS, PTMC 2.84.065 requires the Board of Directors choose the executive director
"solely on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications with special reference to actual
experience in, and knowledge of, accepted practices in respect to the office"; and
WHEREAS, PTMC 2.84.065(B) does not allow any member of the Board of Directors to be
appointed executive director until at least one year following the expiration of the member's term;
and
WHEREAS, the current PDA Executive Director David Timmons tendered his resignation
effective September 30, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the PDA is undergoing a time of deadline -driven transformation and the Board
of Directors feels urgency to appoint an interim executive director immediately to preserve
momentum and address the PDA's continued challenges; and
WHEREAS, the PDA Board of Directors voted to appoint Celeste Tell, a current PDA
Board member as the Interim PDA Executive Director effective October 1, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Tell will resign from the PDA board effective October 1, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Tell is not eligible to be the PDA Executive Director until one year has
passed the end of her appointed term on the PDA board according to the PTMC; and
WHEREAS, the PDA Board of Directors has requested that the City Council waive the one-
year period for the appointment of Ms. Tell as the Interim PDA Executive Director;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Port
Townsend to waive the one-year waiting period in PTMC 2.84.065(B) for the appointment of an
PDA Interim Executive Director on October 1, 2023. This resolution does not waive this
requirement for the appointment of a permanent Executive Director, nor does it allow for a future
Executive Director appointment, either interim or permanent, that would violate PTMC
2.84.065(B). This waiver will expire on March 31, 2025. The Council does not waive the
Resolution 23-048
requirement that the PDA Board consider the "executive and administrative qualifications" of a
permanent Executive Director appointment, which is to be demonstrated through a thorough and
transparent executive search and consideration of multiple candidates.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a regular meeting
thereof, held this 5`" day of September 2023.
............
David J. Faber
Mayor
Attest:
Alyssa Rod1j$WIJ`S`
City Cie
Approved as to form:
Ii,feidi Grcenwwd
City Attorney