Goldsboro continues search for Parks and Recreation director
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on January 31, 2010 2:30 AM
Less than a month after Parks and Recreation director David Carter submitted his resignation to pursue a more lucrative offer in Chesapeake, Va., City Manager Joe Huffman said progress is being made toward finding a worthy replacement.
But despite Huffman's desire is to have the position filled "fairly quickly," he said the city is still asking qualified applicants to come forward. Some candidates have been interviewed and other interested parties have thrown their names into the hat, but as of Friday, no offer had been made.
"I have been working through the process ... but as of right now, we haven't made a formal decision," Huffman said.
And he will not make one simply to satisfy those who argue the position should be filled before the city decides whether to move forward with construction of a recreation center along Center Street -- a vote Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Allen said could take place by the end of March.
"I would love to have a Parks and Recreation director in there before then, but with the economy like it is right now, we need to get moving," Huffman said. "Interest rates are just so low."
Carter's last day was Jan. 22., only a few months after he accepted the job. His exit marked the third of its kind for the department since 2008 -- Sonya Shaw left in 2008 to take a position in Garner and interim director Gail Charles retired.
Earlier this month, Huffman said the ideal candidate to fill the void would bring experience directly related to the city's vision of the future of parks and recreation in Goldsboro -- that they would be able to develop and execute programming at the Recreation Center, if it is built, and would have the skills necessary to work with groups like the Stoney Creek Park Alliance.
"We're looking for someone with experience, someone who can be a team member," Huffman said Jan. 4. "And the ability to interact with the community is going to be really important."