PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Department of Community Development is renewing its search for a planning manager to replace Stacie Prada — who now serves as county treasurer — and county commissioners have approved hiring a temporary staffer to help ease the department’s permit backlog.
“We have gone through a few rounds of interviews, and for one reason or another, they haven’t worked out,” said department Office Coordinator Jodi Adams.
“We just received another stack of applications and will go through them soon to see who we should call in for an interview.”
Prada, known as Stacie Hoskins during her time as planning manager, was elected treasurer in November and took office later that month to fill the unexpired term of former Treasurer Judi Morris.
Adams said the department anticipated the vacancy and prepared by reassigning Prada’s caseload to other planners and allocating her administrative duties to department Director Carl Smith.
Adams said that an offer was made to one person who eventually declined, “probably because he didn’t think that it was worth relocating his family for what we are paying,” she said.
The salary range for the position is from $65,076 to $69,039 per year, according to the job description.
Adams said that two current staffers applied for the position during the first round but were passed over in favor of other candidates.
She said she did not know whether the internal candidates would reapply.
The resignation of associate planner Tim Woolett caused a backlog in the department, prompting the county to hire a former Department of Community Development planner as a consultant to help process permits, Adams said.
We are in a crunch right now because we are not able to get permits out the door,” Adams said.
“Hiring takes quite a long time, even after you find a qualified applicant.”
On Monday, the county commissioners approved going forward with a contract to hire Michelle Farfan, who worked for the county for 26 years and retired in 2013.
Farfan’s contract is to last four or five months at 15 hours per week for an amount to not exceed $20,000 to be paid with a combination of Department of Community Development and general fund money.
Adams said the department approached several consultants but Farfan was selected because she is already familiar with county processes and procedures.
According to the resolution passed by commissioners Monday, the Department of Community Development has a significant backlog of permit applications, creating high caseloads for each planner and causing delays in issuing permits.
As of early March, the department had 272 open cases with 59 waiting on Department of Community Development or Environmental Health for processing.
Sixteen of these cases were more than 120 days old.
“This backlog contributes to long permit times, dissatisfaction by the public with DCD’s customer service and increased stress on staff,” the resolution states.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.