PORT ANGELES — The William Shore Memorial Pool District board president placed the head of Port Angeles’ public swimming pool on administrative leave last week just as it prepares to interview candidates for her replacement.
Pool district board President Mike Chapman, acting without consulting the rest of the board, sent an e-mail to Jayna Lafferty on Wednesday telling her that she was on paid leave and not to show up to work the next day.
Lafferty, who was already planning to leave the pool manager job at the end of the year because the position is being reduced to part time, said she wasn’t given a reason for being placed on leave and doesn’t know why the e-mail was sent.
Chapman, who is also a county commissioner, said he has concerns that “her contract is not being fulfilled.”
He declined to elaborate in order to avoid “discussing a personnel matter in the public venue.”
Chapman said the board will discuss the matter in a closed-door executive session meeting Tuesday.
The board president also said the move has nothing to do with the pool manager search process currently underway.
He defended his decision to place Lafferty on leave without consulting the rest of the board.
Chapman described it as a “short-term decision,” which he did under the advice of the pool district’s attorney.
He added that the “board will discuss where we want to go from there.”
He said the purpose of placing Lafferty on leave was to “take a time out and figure out what’s happening” until the board meets.
“As chairman of the board, it’s my opinion that the terms of the contract are not being complied with,” he said.
“I wanted to bring the full board into the discussion, but before doing that, with consultation of the district’s attorney, she was placed on paid administrative leave.”
Lafferty will be on leave until the board meets, Chapman said. He said the pool’s operation is not affected.
But did Chapman, as head of the board, have the authority to act alone?
He said he does because the board president is supposed to be the day-to-day supervisor of the pool manager.
If that is the case, it’s not in the pool district’s bylaws.
The document says the board president’s role is to preside over meetings, assure an agenda is provided, act as the board’s spokesperson, and sign all resolutions and contracts approved by the board.
It doesn’t mention employee supervision.
“It’s not outlined,” Chapman admitted.
“If the board disagrees with my decision, they are going to overrule it on Tuesday and tell her to go back to work,” he said.
The pool district’s attorney, Craig Miller, didn’t return a phone call to his office Friday afternoon requesting comment.
Pool board vice president Cherie Kidd said that Chapman acted appropriately and that he has the support of the other board members.
Kidd said the role of the board president has expanded because the day-to-day responsibilities of running the district have increased since voters approved its formation in spring 2009.
She said this has occurred with the consent of the board even though the bylaws haven’t changed.
“The whole thing has been a trial period,” said Kidd, who is a Port Angeles City Council member.
Later this week, a pool district subcommittee will review six applicants for the pool manager position, Chapman said.
The new manager will work part time, about 20 hours a week, and be focused more on marketing pool activities and developing a strategic plan than running the day-to-day operations of the pool, Chapman said.
The new director also will likely make about half of the current $60,000 salary, he said.
Chapman said he hopes to fill the position by November.
Letters of interest are still being accepted, he said.
They can be sent to Tammy Sullenger, the board’s clerk.
Sullenger, who is also the county commission’s administrative assistant, can be reached at 360-417-2383.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.