JoCo plans for dept. head retirements
From our weekly issue dated August 25, 2010
The position of Josephine County planning director is being advertised, as Michael Snider plans to retire at the end of this year.
Snider“s situation is not unique, as millions of Baby Boomers throughout the United States are actively arranging their exits from the workforce. Because of that, businesses and municipalities are engaging in various forms of succession planning.
Among those is the city of Cave Junction. Jim Polk has worked as the city recorder for some 18 years, but will retire at the end of August this year. His position has been filled by 31-year-old Ryan Nolan, who has spent the past few weeks being trained by Polk.
At the county level, Snider is not the first Boomer to opt for retirement. Bill Burns recently retired after spending six years working in the finance office, and was replaced by Robin Drinkwater. She is the former finance director for Lake County.
Phil Killian works as the county“s property manager. According to Human Resources Director Sarah Moye, Killian“s position has been re-classified by the board of commissioners. As of Oct. 1, the property manager will come under the public works department, Moye said, and will become part time.
Moye said that although Killian has not provided official notice, it“s anticipated that he will retire at the end of September.
Snider plans to retire as of Jan. 1, Moye said, but will participate in the transition. No immediate in-house successor has been identified within the planning office, Moye said, but employees are invited to apply for Snider“s position.
The goal of succession planning is to identify and groom persons within agencies to eventually assume those top spots, Moye said. However, many department heads left the county between 2005 and 2006 due to budget cuts and retirements.
Chief Financial Officer Rosemary DeLashmutt said that many reductions were made to the county“s middle management at that time. As such, she said that there are no deputy directors for many of the departments, which has complicated succession planning within the organization.
Fortunately, Moye said, no more retirements are anticipated for the next few years.
The closing date for the planning director position is listed as Sept. 30 on the county Website. It will be open until filled, and pays between $59,113 and $80,224 per year.
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