PORT ANGELES — It’s official.
After naming Fire Chief Dan McKeen interim city manager April 17, the City Council unanimously approved his new contract Tuesday at the council’s monthly work session.
McKeen will hold the $11,225-a-month interim position for up to 120 days beginning Wednesday, the day after current City Manager Kent Myers’ last day on the job.
McKeen makes $9,379 a month as fire chief.
Myers, Port Angeles city manager since Jan. 12, 2009, will become city manager of Fredericksburg, Texas.
The City Council has hired the Issaquah-based Prothman Co. to recruit potential replacements for Myers.
McKeen said Wednesday that as interim city manager, the focus of his efforts will include the city’s smart-meter electric utility project, the Port Angeles Harbor sediment study, waterfront development plans, the combined sewer overflow project and the city’s 2013 budget.
McKeen has been meeting daily for at least an hour with Myers to get up to speed, he said.
But he will leave the potential reorganization of the Public Works and Utilities Department, which the City Council has said it wants to explore, up to Myers’ permanent replacement, McKeen said.
“It’s very important to me during the interim period to maintain continuity with the day-to-day activities and also continue to move forward with programs and projects that are currently in place,” he continued.
“That doesn’t leave room for anything else.”
Myers to issue report
Myers will issue a report on the impact of potential reorganization for the council’s review soon, Myers said Wednesday.
McKeen has “gone through about a third to a half of what’s going on,” McKeen said.
McKeen said he does not intend to apply for the permanent position.
“I also said I would not step in as interim, too,” he added.
McKeen has named Assistant Fire Chief Ken Dubuc to serve as interim head of the fire department.
Dubuc will make $8,748 a month compared with the $8,332 he makes as assistant fire chief.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
