A few key positions within the City of Sequim remain open following resignations in recent months as three new city councilors come into office this month.

Interim Public Works Director appointed

Assistant Public Works Director Sarah VanAusdle recently signed on to serve as Interim Public Works Director until a permanent replacement can be found for Matt Klontz who resigned effective Oct. 29, city officials announced in November.

VanAusdle started with the city in Feb. 2011 in the finance department as an accounting assistant, and in Jan. 2012 she joined the city’s public works department as the public works management analyst. She was promoted to Assistant Public Works Director in May 2021.

“We are fortunate to have someone with Sarah’s depth of knowledge to serve as the Interim Director while we conduct our search,” Sequim City Manager Matt Huish said.

“Her understanding of the required procedures and personnel in the Public Works Department ensures that we can provide uninterrupted service to our Sequim customers.”

Emily Stednick, human resources director, said the position closed in late November and they began screening candidates. A timeline was not given for hiring a permanent public works director.

City clerk position opens

Former city clerk Sara McMillon finished her tenure less than two years after starting with the city.

Stednick said McMillon left to take on clerk duties with the City of Duvall. She started in Sequim Dec. 2, 2019 and participated in her last city council meeting on Nov. 22 where she was honored by Mayor William Armacost with a proclamation.

Armacost said McMillon was the “glue that held us together,” and councilor Keith Larkin said she has “always been able to give us good advice.”

Huish, who started as city manager on Nov. 1, said he learned in his short time with the city she’s been an asset for Sequim, and “like many on the management team, she’s been a rare gem for the city.”

McMillon said on Nov. 22 it was an honor to serve the community and was touched by the send-off she received earlier in the day.

The city clerk position is open now along with a part-time arts coordinator position, maintenance worker, and a police officer.

Assistant City Manager Charisse Deschenes will serve as acting city clerk in the interim, Stednick said.

In 2021, the city added seven new staffers, and three more positions plan to start before 2022.

Council honors, changes

The Nov. 22 city council meeting was the last for three councilors in 2021 — Sarah Kincaid, Larkin and Mike Pence — who were also honored in a proclamation by Armacost.

In the Nov. 2 General Election, Kathy Downer (position 2), Vicki Lowe (position 3) and Lowell Rathbun (position 6) won their seats over the incumbents ranging from 69.6 to 65.4 percent, with about 56 percent voter turnout.

Armacost thanked the outgoing councilors, saying they “endured unfounded personal attacks” and he paraphrased a public comment that it was “cancel culture on steroids.”

“Yet they did not waiver, always putting Sequim first with council decisions, serving all citizens fair and equal regardless of social or economic status,” he said.

“Your willingness to listen to citizens and act on their behalf will be greatly missed.”

Kincaid, who was appointed to her seat in April 2020, said it was a “privilege serving on the council especially serving with our mayor,” whom she called the “textbook definition of grace under fire.” She also thanked city staff for their assistance and patience, and Deschenes who helped give her a “much better understanding of our city and its citizens.”

Larkin, appointed in Oct. 2020, said he felt they achieved some positive things, including hiring Huish.

“I believe he’s going to do a great job for the community (and) he is the right person for the job,” he said.

As a 4-3 majority, Larkin, Kincaid, Pence and Armacost voted to call for the resignation of former city manager Charlie Bush in January, which some incoming city councilors attributed on election night to the vote swaying against the incumbents.

Some community members and incoming city councilors asked for more transparency on the resignation, but incumbents and city staff said discussions in executive sessions are private.

Larkin added on Nov. 22 that the council hasn’t agreed on issues (with many 4-3 votes) but said he felt it’s important “to have a different way of looking at things” and that it’s healthy to hear opposing views.

A few of the council’s unanimous efforts came in helping small businesses during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic when they agreed to disburse $500,000 in two increments to local restaurants and bars. They also agreed on Nov. 8 to allocate another $250,000 for the effort.

Larkin cautioned on Nov. 22 to incoming council members that the city’s budget is the citizens’ money and the council’s “duty is to work for all citizens and not just ones part of a special interest.”

Pence, appointed in April 2020, said councilors don’t act “as an individual but for the city and what’s in the best interest of the city.”

“I tried to do it with the best interest of the community every time we voted on something,” he said. “I’m concerned about what direction our community may move on in the future. There seems to be a huge Marxist agenda in the background the council is supporting. I hope this isn’t true … We will be watching (and) we’ll be the first ones to pipe up and let you know we don’t like the direction it is going.”

Sequim city council next meets in a virtual meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13. Along with Downer, Lowe and Rathbun, incumbents Rachel Anderson and Brandon Janisse were elected to the council.

See agenda items here.