PORT TOWNSEND — Brent Alfred Butler of Port Townsend has begun work as the director of Jefferson County’s Department of Community Development.
He was officially introduced to the board of county commissioners in his new role on his first day Monday.
Butler’s focus will be to make the department more customer-oriented and responsive, but he wants to take a few months to get a better understanding of the department, the team and what can be improved before he makes big changes, he said in a press release.
“There’s a need for us to understand what the community’s concerns are and to see if there is a way that we can address them within what the law allows,” Butler said.
“My goal would be to have some actionable changes after six months.
“I feel that you really need to sit back and for the first six months not make any changes, and just observe and understand what’s going on.”
Butler previously worked for Jefferson County as a lead long-range planner, and he has been involved in government and other organizations with a focus on housing and economic development in city and county governments in Idaho, California and Washington State, the release said.
He was previously a member of the Critical Areas Advisory Committee and helped develop the Critical Areas Ordinance.
The three commissioners were glad to welcome Butler.
“I’m super thrilled you’re here,” said District 2 Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour. “Welcome to the team.”
Butler plans on talking with them individually over the next few days to discuss project priorities, ideas and plans moving forward, and he looks forward to working with the commissioners, he said Monday.
“I’m just really thankful to have this opportunity,” Butler said.
Butler earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Williams College in Massachusetts, a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Washington and a Master of Design Studies from Harvard University, the release said.
His most recent position was policy lead with the municipal corporation with the City of Seattle, where he led the Age Friendly Communities program in Seattle. There, he identified the activities of daily living that older adults can no longer perform for themselves or pay for because of their income, he said Monday.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
