SnoCo looks for new director
By ADAM STEWART Staff Reporter
The Snohomish County Council thawed a corner of the countywide hiring freeze to fill the planning department director position.
Council granted an initial exemption for the position last year. The 2010 budget readopted a hiring freeze, requiring the current release.
Brian Parry, an executive director in county executive Aaron Reardon’s office, said the executive’s office would like to continue interviewing candidates for the job, given the council’s approval.
According to Parry, once the right candidate is found, the position will be filled immediately.
“This is a little bit different than some of the other exemptions we’ve been asked for,” said councilman Dave Somers. “Because this is a director position, I feel it’s important to find a permanent replacement.”
Both Parry and Somers commented that acting director Larry Adamson was doing an excellent job; however, the importance of the position requires a permanent replacement.
Adamson took over the duties of former planning director Craig Ladiser on June 29. Ladiser was officially fired in August after an investigation revealed he drunkenly exposed himself to a female lobbyist during a June 24 golf tournament hosted by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish counties.
The council approved the exemption from the hiring freeze by a 3 - 0 vote. Councilmen Sullivan and Cooper were excused from the general legislative session.
