North Whidbey Parks director hiring decision delayed

After two evenings of interviews, the decision to name a new executive director for the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District has been delayed for a week. Commissioners are putting off the decision because of some confusion coming from the public notification process. Commissioner meetings this week didn’t explicitly mention a decision would be made after the meeting Thursday night, said Ron Rhinehart, president of the park board.

By Nathan Whalen • April 13, 2012 4:55 pm
Commissioners for the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District chat after interviewing candidates being considered for the vacant executive director position. The elected board is scheduled to make a decision Thursday
Commissioners for the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District chat after interviewing candidates being considered for the vacant executive director position. The elected board is scheduled to make a decision Thursday

After two evenings of interviews, the decision to name a new executive director for the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District has been delayed for a week.

Commissioners are putting off the decision because of some confusion coming from the public notification process. Commissioner meetings this week didn’t explicitly mention a decision would be made after the meeting  Thursday night, said Ron Rhinehart, president of the park board.

He said the park district, the main function of which is to operate the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool, received a letter expressing concerns about the notification process and the commissioners thought it would be best to be sensitive to those concerns and delay the decision until Thursday. He added that the commissioners want to be as transparent as possible.

The previous executive director retired in December and the district has been searching for a replacement ever since. Six finalists are vying for the position and the commissioners interviewed them during executive session via Skype on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The names of those finalists have not been released.

The North Whidbey Park and Recreation District commissioners will meet again Thursday, April  19, at 6 p.m. at the pool meeting room to name a new executive director.

In addition, the commissioners hope to find a replacement for Rhinehart, who is resigning his position on the commission. Rhinehart said two people, Allan McDougall and Bob Wilson, have expressed interest in the park board, an elected position.