North Whidbey Park and Recreation District has filled two vacant positions.

On Jan. 22, Dave Smith joined the board of commissioners, filling the seat vacated by Allan McDougall in December, and the aquatics director, Erika Miller, assumed the role of interim executive director.

There were two applicants for the commissioner position, but only Smith was present during the meeting for a brief question-and-answer period.

Commissioner Donna Sue Holly, who joined the board in October, expressed concern over the process of filling the commissioner seat. She asked if the applicants were told they’d be questioned at the board meeting Thursday, stating that when she was applying for the position, she felt the board wouldn’t want her present.

Then-director Gino Wolfe encouraged her to attend the meeting, during which she and another candidate were interviewed.

Holly said she thought the applicant who wasn’t present for that meeting wasn’t seriously considered for the position because of her absence, and that the board should reach out to applicants and inform them they should attend the meeting if that’s what it took.

“I just think … you should tell people, ‘You should come to the meeting cause we’re going to ask you questions,’ ” Holly said.

Chairman Sean Merrill said that informing the candidates that they should be present at the meeting is something they could do in the future.

“I will dog you about that,” Holly replied.

Holly said she also didn’t receive the application material prior to the meeting and had no chance to review it.

“I think we have a process breakdown,” Commissioner Wendy Shingleton said. “We weren’t automatically sent (the material).”

Commissioner Steve Hoffmire moved to interview the present Smith for the position.

Asked by Hoffmire why he was interested in joining the board, Smith replied, “this is my community. That’s the reason — it’s my community, and I want to participate in it.”

Shingleton asked Smith what he brings to the table, and answered that he wants to help the board to build stronger relationships with the city, help write grants and take part in strategic planning and facility safety.

Hoffmire made the motion to appoint Smith to the vacancy, and the board unanimously agreed.

During the same meeting, the board asked Miller to lead the district as its interim director.

After former executive director Wolfe resigned at the end of December, the board elected to find an interim director to keep the district running while conducting an extended search for a permanent director.

The plan was for the subcommittee consisting of commissioners Hoffmire and Shingleton to approach the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce with their search for an interim director, whom they were hoping would be a community member with experience running a park and recreation district.

Shingleton was unable to attend the chamber luncheon. She moved to appoint the district’s aquatic director as the interim director.

“I believe we are in a position that we need someone in an authoritative position now,” Shingleton said. “We need someone who’s empowered to make decisions now, for many reasons, including the best interest of the pool.

“I believe she (Miller) is the most qualified person that we have.”

Miller has been with the district for three years. Shingleton said that experience will benefit the district.

“My strengths are, definitely, I do know the district,” Miller said. “Probably better than a lot of people that are currently on staff. I know the staff, I know a lot of their strengths and weaknesses as well, and I think we can work together as a team to make this place continue to move forward while we’re doing our director search.”

Miller said her weaknesses include not delegating as much as she should, something she will work on, and unfamiliarity with state laws, which she said she will review in depth.

The motion to appoint Miller was passed conditionally, based upon the district’s lawyer reviewing the bylaws of the district to ensure the board is allowed to appoint an interim director.

If confirmed, Miller will retain her title of aquatic director as well, though she would be required to delegate more of those duties to the staff.

After a permanent executive director is found, Miller will return to being the aquatic director for the district.