PORT TOWNSEND — A retired Jefferson County administrator is expected to assume the leadership of the Department of Community Development until a permanent director can be found.
David Goldsmith, 66, was approached by County Administrator Philip Morley to take over the department after Carl Smith retires from the post Sept. 25.
Jefferson County commissioners will consider approval of Goldman’s 60-day contract, in which he would be paid $9,600 for a minimum of 16 days per month — not to exceed $32,100 — this Tuesday.
The meeting is set for 9 a.m. in the commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.
Smith receives the equivalent of $9,541 a month in salary and benefits, so the net cost to the county would be $59, according to the contract.
Morley said the first round of application evaluation begins Sept. 28 as the application period closes and that it could take several months to select a new permanent director.
“We need to spend some time selecting a finalist from the pool of applicants, and that person will need time to give notice at their current job and move to the area,” Morley said.
“For that reason, hiring an interim director to run the department during that time was necessary.”
After that determination, Morley contacted Goldsmith, who was hired by the county in 1975 as a planner before working as DCD director, director of community services and county administrator before retiring in 2004.
Since that time, he has worked as a consultant and has taken several interim jobs around the state, he said Friday.
Morley said Goldsmith is “uniquely qualified” for the interim director position.
“David has a thorough knowledge of Jefferson County government,” Morley said.
“He is a seasoned manager who knows all about land use and permitting and will be able to step into this position with virtually no learning curve.”
Goldsmith said, “Things have changed since I was DCD director.
“Today, there are a lot more different processes and more layers of rules.
“But even if the rules are more complex, there are some things that stay the same, like providing good customer service.”
Enjoys public service
Goldsmith said he initially expected to work in the private sector but took a public path because he enjoyed the process of helping people understand and comply with complex government regulations.
“I think these rules can be important because they help us to live together and work together and be a vibrant community,” Goldsmith said.
He said development innovations can begin locally and, if effective, be emulated throughout the globe.
The next DCD director will focus on the upcoming comprehensive plan revision due next year, Morley said, as well as on promoting economic development and supervising the growth of areas such as Port Hadlock and Glen Cove.
Morley said the DCD hiring process will at first whittle down applicants to the most qualified and then institute a public process to interview and evaluate the finalists.
Smith, 65, currently earns $90,353 annually, with his successor to earn between $70,831 and $95,151.
Morley said he did not know how many applications have been submitted so far.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
