PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Director of Community Development Al Scalf will retire Nov. 30 after 26 years with the county, the past 16 as its top planning officer.
“I remain idealistic that this county will continue the participatory democracy that has fashioned our experiences over these past years and for years to come,” he said in a letter submitted last week to County Administrator Philip Morley.
Scalf, 62, said he gave a two-months notice in order to give the county plenty of time to find a replacement and that he hoped to be on the selection committee that will choose his successor.
He said the job will be advertised internally first before making a public job announcement.
Morley said no schedule is in place yet.
The salary range for the DCD director’s position was from $67,564 to $90,801, with Scalf now earning the maximum amount.
Clerk Lorna Delaney, who is retiring this month, said the commissioners would decide whether to advertise within the state, regionally or nationally.
Began work in 1985
Scalf was born and raised in Chimacum and began working for the Jefferson County Department of Public Works in 1985.
He began as DCD director in 1995 and received orientation from Michelle Marfan, now an associate planner.
“He was very eager to learn all the land-use regulations and was a good student,” Marfan said.
“He also had red hair,” Marfan added, referring to Scalf’s now-greying hair.
Scalf said he was the longest serving land-use chief in the state.
He attributed his longevity to the fact he was local and understood the issues specific to Jefferson County.
Scalf said his retirement plans are not yet certain, other than his intention to remain in the area.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said.
As DCD director, Scalf has been placed in the middle of contentious issues, between state laws and unfunded mandates on one side and property rights advocates on the other.
Listens to all parties
He feels he has succeeded because he listens to all parties and attempts to compromise, whether they are contractors seeking to build large structures or “grandmas and grandpas looking to get the most out of their property.”
Scalf said he began working for Jefferson County during “the golden years” when the region’s livelihood came from logging, fishing and farming, and people had a good rapport with local government.
That has changed with an increase in population and a decrease in economic circumstances “when people are more concerned with the costs of feeding their families and keeping their land.”
Times have been especially tough since 2008 when the recession started, Scalf said.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
