Again, county to seek planning department head

Matthew Zybas last week announced he will not pursue the job of director of the Community Development and Planning Department. Zybas, serving now as acting director, was tapped four months ago to run the department following the departure of Stephen Amsbaugh, who resigned in May. Amsbaugh headed the agency for just five months. When he left, Zybas agreed to take on the leadership role temporarily.

Some had hoped for more. Commissioner Kevin Ranker said that in his brief tenure at the top Zybas has proven to be one of the best directors the department has ever had. He's gained the respect and admiration of CDPD staff and raised both morale and efficiency within the department, Ranker said.

"We still have a ways to go, but Matt has positioned us for prosperity in that department," Ranker said. "I'm saddened by his decision, but Matt's an incredible asset to this county in whatever role he plays."

A resident of Orcas Island, Zybas expects to return to his former post as manager of the Department of Public Works' solid-waste division after a new CDPD director is selected. He praised the CDPD staff for their dedication during the past four months, and for making significant progress on numerous fronts -- long-range planning issues, in particular. He said he gave considerable thought to the director job but determined that Public Works is where he prefers to be.

"It was a tough decision," Zybas said. "In the end, I think (Public Works) is where I really want to be."

In May, Zybas took hold of the reins of a department born amid controversy and rocked by resignations, cuts and terminations. Created two years ago through the consolidation of the permit center and the long-range planning division, CDPD has a full-time staff of 16 and regularly employs consultants to fulfill its long-range planning tasks. The department is expected to generate about $700,000 in revenue and pay roughly $1.1 million in expenses next year.

Beginning with the resignation of Grant Beck in May 2002, the two agencies involved in planning and permitting have endured the loss of 10 directors, managers or senior planners in the past three years. That list includes Francine Shaw, a popular deputy director who was fired four months ago; senior planners Pat Mann, Richard Rutz and D.J. Sessner, all of whom resigned; and Laura Arnold, the long-time planning director who was ousted in the consolidation, and who now works for the county as a consultant.

Human Resources Manager Becky Rusnak said the recruiting process for the vacant director's post is under way. Rusnak said applications are still being accepted, and that she expects to begin screening the pool of candidates sometime in the near future. Similar to the process by which Amsbaugh was hired, she said leading contenders for the job will undergo a series of interviews before county commissioners make a final decision.

"Sometime in the next couple weeks we should have enough candidates to start screening paper," Rusnak said. "After that, a committee will review the applicants and then determine who's on the top of the list."

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