SEQUIM — Olympic Theatre Arts will not renew the contract of executive director Cj Augustine, setting the stage for an internal backlash over the direction of OTA’s future amid a million-dollar fund-raising campaign.
The board of directors made its decision to terminate Augustine on May 17.
One board member resigned in protest the next day, and many people expect to make their displeasure known at OTA’s annual meeting June 28 — the time when board members are selected.
“I think that is the fundamental issue here,” said Janice Parks, who gave up her seat as board vice chairman because she felt the board was ignoring the membership.
“They see this as a community center-theater.
“Those of us in the production of plays see it as a theater-community center.
“Theater is our middle name.”
OTA board chairman Russ Mellon issued a written statement about the decision but did not return phone calls seeking further comment Wednesday.
‘Personnel matter’
“This is a personnel matter and the details cannot be discussed publicly,” the statement says.
“This decision by the board should not be construed negatively, and the board wishes to publicly thank Cj Augustine for all of her hard work and dedication to the theater.”
There are OTA supporters, however, who say they are construing the move negatively.
And the decision to replace Augustine is more than a personnel matter, sources said.
It’s an identity crisis — will Olympic Theatre Arts, and the $1.9 million complex that’s halfway through being refurbished in the old Boys & Girls Club building remain primarily a place for theater performances, or for meetings and events?
Augustine moved to Sequim in 1996 and was active in OTA before becoming its executive director three years ago. She was the first full-time director for the group, which was formed 25 years ago.
Final day June 18
Her last day as executive director will be June 18. She said she is seeking other employment and may have to leave the area — and that she doesn’t feel she was treated fairly.
“There had been conversations about a different direction [for OTA], but I had not been given anything specific,” Augustine said.
“This is not just a non-renewal of a contract. This is a termination of employment. I did not feel like they had grounds for that.”
In his statement, Mellon said members of the board conducted “a detailed and thoughtful evaluation of the greatly expanded management needs of OTA” and “determined that a change in management was advisable.”
