PORT ANGELES — Two Port of Port Angeles commissioners don’t want to be rushed into starting a search for a new executive director, but the third wants to push the process along.
Commissioners Colleen McAleer and Jim Hallett aren’t in a hurry to find a successor for Ken O’Hollaren, who will leave the job for private industry Dec. 31.
Retiring Commissioner John Calhoun — who’ll leave office at the end of the year at the same time the director departs — wants fast action.
Commissioners Tuesday confirmed Karen Goschen, the port’s finance director, as O’Hollaren’s interim replacement.
“I think this is a great move,” Calhoun said after Goschen presented the port’s draft 2016 budget.
“I certainly have full confidence in Karen taking that position.”
However, he then urged his colleagues immediately to start the search for O’Hollaren’s permanent replacement.
McAleer said she’d rather wait until January, when Calhoun’s successor — commissioner-elect Connie Beauvais of Joyce — takes office. She won over Forks City Councilman Mike Breidenbach in the Nov. 3 election.
Furthermore, McAleer would like to involve Jeannie Beckett, the consultant who has helped commissioners draft their new strategic plan.
‘Sooner than later’
Calhoun demurred.
“I don’t understand why we can’t initiate that whole process sooner than later,” he said.
Beauvais, he said, could help draft a request for proposals from executive recruiters.
“I don’t think it should take that long,” he said.
“If you want to drag it on for six months, you can, but it’s not particularly healthy for an organization, nor is it necessary.”
Hallett instructed Goschen to contact Beckett, whose Beckett Group of Gig Harbor has guided drafting the port’s strategic plan for the next 30 years under a $39,600 contract.
The plan will outline the respective roles of port commissioners and their administrators.
McAleer noted that once Beauvais is sworn into office, conversations between them will constitute on-the-record commissioners meetings.
Informal discussions
She said Tuesday, however, she would start informal discussions with Beauvais, although she would invite the public to the meetings that she said might take place over coffee in a Port Angeles eatery.
McAleer also said she had reconsidered her plans and that she will run for re-election in 2016, especially so she could oversee implementation of the strategic plan.
For her part, Beauvais told the Peninsula Daily News on Tuesday she saw no reason to wait to choose an executive search firm.
“When we have the team, we still have to decide,” she said, adding that probably will occur after she takes office.
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Reporter James Casey can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jcasey@peninsuladailynews.com.
