What’s next for Port Angeles Fine Arts center director?
Published 12:01 am Friday, June 15, 2012
PORT ANGELES — A new Port Angeles Fine Arts Center executive director has been selected — but not hired.
Bringing in the successor to Jake Seniuk, who is retiring after 23 years, depends on funding, Port Angeles City Councilman Max Mania, who is on the hiring committee, said Thursday.
The person selected will not be identified until the funding decision is final.
The 25-year-old arts center is sustained largely by donations and fundraising events, with a small portion from the city of Port Angeles.
The director position was advertised earlier this year with an annual salary range of $54,257 to $64,850 plus benefits, but the City Council has yet to officially approve the allocation for that.
“Council action is pending,” Mania said. He added that he hopes the chosen candidate still will be available if and when a hiring decision is made.
An April 27 letter from the Fine Arts Center Ad Hoc Committee to the City Council requested help in funding the position.
“It is no longer realistic to expect that the director’s salary and benefits be paid by the fundraising activities of the PAFAC Foundation,” the letter said.
The City Council will consider a 2012 funding request for $52,000 to fund the director position for the rest of 2012 at the council work session at 5 p.m. June 26 in the council chambers at City Hall, 321 W. Fifth St. The request will be discussed as part of an overall discussion of the status of the 2012 budget.
“A preliminary review of the city’s 2012 budget has raised a number of concerns,” according to a June 5 memo from interim City Manager Dan McKeen to the City Council.
Sales tax collections are down, liquor-tax revenues are expected to decline, and the city faces spending “adjustments” due to city manager and finance director recruitment, he said.
“In preparation for the work session, staff will be exploring other funding sources outside of the general fund which may be available to assist the [Port Angeles Fine Arts Center],” McKeen said in the memo.
