After a second special meeting to address concerns over background checks, the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District commissioners officially approved a proposed swim coach contract.

The contract will be offered to the top candidate.

Initially rejected during the Nov. 20 meeting, the contract underwent revisions before being conditionally accepted during a special meeting held Dec. 3.

The revised contract included a $47,000 annual base salary, with eligibility for up to a 3 percent salary increase “coinciding with favorable employee review by the district commissioners,” and no guaranteed pay raises.

Dick Taylor, the head coach candidate, is also eligible for up to $2,000 in moving expenses, 10 days of vacation per year, district health benefits, pre-approved expense reimbursement, a 7 percent match of his base salary in retirement pay and, if the contract is terminated, reimbursement for unused vacation time.

At the first special meeting, however, the executive director making the proposal, Gino Wolfe, failed to provide copies of the background check to the members of the board, who wished to personally review the findings before allowing Wolfe to present the offer to Taylor.

Wolfe was tasked with providing the material to members of the board, after which they’d have three days to review the findings and either let the matter settle or call a special meeting to discuss any questions or concerns.

A second special meeting was held Dec. 10 to discuss the background checks, though Commissioner Steve Hoffmire made it clear his reasons for requesting a meeting had nothing to do with any findings in the background checks and had more to do with the extent of the checks, among other things.

“I think that we ought to do as much background check as possible,” Hoffmire said during the meeting. “(Only a sexual offense check) is not good enough when we’re talking about the kids of this district.”

Before the meeting, Wolfe was apparently able to provide more extensive background check material addressing most of the concerns expressed by Hoffmire and Commissioner Wendy Shingleton.

“I was satisfied (before the meeting),” Shingleton said.

“The scope of the check was expanded, and we saw the scope was expanded, and I’m fine with that.”

Hoffmire said had a couple of additional concerns, most notably that, after he looked it up, he discovered there are 7,280 Richard Taylors living in the country.

Hoffmire said he wanted to know how the background check company, Tracers Info, knew which Richard Taylor was the right one.

Wolfe said that the only personal information he provided the company conducting the background check was a name and the birth date.

The Whidbey News-Times contacted Tracers Info for information about how they conduct background checks, and ensure checks are done on the correct person. That call was not returned by press time.

In light of Wolfe’s recent, informal letter of resignation, Hoffmire suggested the parks district delay hiring a new swim coach until after a new director is hired, so the new director can be involved in the selection.

“We’ve been down this cycle over the past two years, where a director’s firing a swim coach to replace, and it’s just this cycle that’s got to break at some point in time,” Hoffmire said.

“It’s time for a hard reset. That’s my opinion.”

Commissioner Sean Merrill said that he understands Hoffmire’s concern, but disagrees.

“I don’t think it’s fair that we keep this program in limbo any longer than it has been with no head coach,” Merrill said.

“I think it’s time for change … but I don’t think that we (should) hijack this program.”

The commissioners decided that the condition of reviewing the background checks was met, and authorized Wolfe to offer the approved contract to Taylor.

“I’m really excited about the swim coach coming,” Merrill said. “I think it’s great. It’s one of the things that are going to put os back on track.

“It’s one of our biggest programs, and I’m excited … this will be one of the first steps to get it healthy again.”