In total, the job posting yielded 39 applications from around the country.
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||
San Juan County is moving forward in its interview process for a new County Manager which will culminate with a community meeting in each district on May 6 and 7. The job posting yielded 39 applicants from around the country that have been screened and vetted via a variety of steps including resume reviews, video interviews, and written responses.
The County’s core hiring committee which consists of the Human Resources Director, Interim County Manager, and the Council have been working with the recruitment firm Strategic Government Resources (SGR) to narrow the applicant pool. During the April 16 Council meeting, Council selected the finalists who are invited to participate in the final interview phase.
The selected finalists are invited to in-person interviews as well as a community meeting in each of the three districts on Monday and Tuesday May 6 and 7. During these community meetings, the public will have the opportunity to meet and learn about the candidates via a moderated Q&A. The exact times and locations of community meetings are still being finalized and the public will be notified of further details as soon as possible.
The final round of interviews will be conducted by panels comprised of Council members and other elected officials, County staff, and board members from various County committees. The County Council is the ultimate hiring body for the County Manager position.
Currently, San Juan County’s Health & Community Services Director, Mark Tompkins, is serving as the Interim County Manager and the County’s Parks and Fair Director, Brandon Andrews, is serving as the Interim Assistant County Manager.
Thank you, Coucilmembers, for providing these opportunities for the candidates for this important position to be introduced to the public, and hopefully to hear residents’ hopes and concerns about County government and its plans. I hope you’ll do the same for future candidates for our next Community Development director.
Since we will have two new council people come November, I wonder if the Council for the next four years should be the selectors of the new county manager not the outgoing council.
What is your rationale for this line of thinking Amanda?
“Democracy” may better be served by avoiding “Lame Duck” appointments.
Amanda?
Amanda, and Phil– Throwing out vague innuendos is a bit like hitting under the belt, it’s as if you almost have something factual to say… when you really don’t.
“Democracy” may better be served by avoiding “Lame Duck” appointments.” Are you both suggesting that perhaps we should change County law, and that this should be the new way that we do things… that from now on outgoing County council members should just quit before their term is up? Or, is it perhaps more your thinking that we should just apply this when it’s not the candidate of your choice that’s the one doing their job?
Seriously, clarify what you mean… the election is still 7 months away. Are you somehow inferring that letting the current administration (voted in by a majority of SJC voters I might remind you), do the job that we selected them for is somehow not serving democracy?
What does democracy mean to you Phil?
Just saw your comment Michael. My reason is that the current council has been largely led by the now departed County Manager Mike Thomas. I don’t think the current council understands the role they were elected for to set policy and actually lead. Given the multiple areas they have abdicated responsibility on in deference to Manager Thomas they have long acted as lame ducks. The County budget decisions of the last four years, the treatment of Conservation Land Bank personnel, the lack of progress on affordable housing, the “Office of the County Manager” empire building we now have, the lack of transparency in their decision making, that our county still has no land use enforcement…just to name a few areas I am concerned about. Why would we have a lame duck council select the county manager that a new council will need to work with? We need competent, experienced effective leadership and I think our best chance is to elect two new leaders as council and have them select the manager they feel they can work with given their and the electorate’s priorities.
res ipsa loquitur
Dissentio. hoc idem argumentum Mitch McConnell in fine Obama (non autem Trump) alloqui.
Amanda, I think the current administration understands the role they were elected for, and have set policy and led very well… Mike Thomas’ timely departure is evidence of that.
You cite– “the treatment of Conservation Land Bank personnel”
The current administration has been extremely supportive of the Land Bank. The issue several years ago was clearly a case of crossed wires on communication over a purchase that all of the council supported. They immediately implemented protocols to make sure that everyone was on the same page.
You cite, “The County budget decisions of the last four years?”
This administration, in line with the Planning Commission process and working with the DCD Director, got the 6-yr overdue Comprehensive Plan over the goal line. This resulted in the County becoming eligible for a number of grants from the WA State Dept. of Commerce, including $350,000 towards planning for the next GMA deadline in July 2025. They supported allocation of Federal COVID assistance and recovery funds to childcare, rental assistance and small trades education through the Economic Development Council. They proposed and guided the establishment of a Tribal Liaison position within County government. Obtained permission and funding for the development of a cultural competency training program and contact protocol for Government to Government work with the Tribes. And they guided the request for ARPA funds from the CRCs for “supported housing” pilot programs. to name a few of the “budget items they accomplished in the last 4 years.
You cite, “the lack of progress on affordable housing”.
This administration has been highly supportive of the affordable housing programs in SJC than the last. Speaking for Orcas Island the OPAL group is still going strong under the leadership of Lisa Byers, and with the help of the current administration.
“Why would we have a lame duck council select the county manager that a new council will need to work with? ”
Rick Hughes was one of the councilmen who hired Mike Thomas in 2013… given the possibility that he (Rick) may assume a leadership role again makes me feel more comfortable with the existing administration vetting candidates for this position. In doing so perhaps we might make a better choice this time around.
Michael, we have different opinions on this clearly.
Not sure of your point about the timeliness of Mike Thomas’ departure other than it results in a manager being hired by a soon to be departing majority of the council. Looking back, I suspect if Rick Hughes had been elected rather than Cindy Wolf, Manager Thomas would not have had such free rein to impose his ideas on Council thinking. Being a new council person with little government experience working with a County Manager who knows the landscape put the existing council at a disadvantage in my opinion and I think the record supports my view.
All county councils elected here have supported affordable housing but the real work has been accomplished by private non-profits like OPAL. I don’t see any demonstrable progress by the county in that regard other than they “support” it. Argyle lots in Friday Harbor still sits with no housing many years after its purchase by the county.
And yes, you mention some things they have done. That’s good since doing stuff and making progress is literally their job.
Unfortunately, issues with the Land Bank did not go away as you state. There have been repeated efforts to usurp the historical decision making power of the Land Bank Commission, and more threats of unnecessary and, in my opinion, harassing employee improvement reviews.
Do we need an “Office of the County Manager”? I think that is unnecessary in our small county. How many assistants does a county manager need? Do we need land use enforcement? Absolutely! And have for years with no result. You can pass all the comprehensive plans and land use regulations you want but without enforcement they are anemic.
The best choice for a county manager is one hired by the next full administration. That way, the incoming County Manager will immediately understand who they are working for and there will be a much more level power playing field.
Amanda