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Staff recommend Hayden Llewellyn or parks professional Matthew Grantham for recreational lands advisory committee
Summary
Clatsop County parks staff presented three applicants for an open seat on the Recreational Lands Planning and Advisory Committee and recommended a candidate to maintain district representation and bring ADA and parks expertise to long-range planning.
CLATSOP COUNTY, Ore. — County parks staff briefed the Board of Commissioners on May 28 about three candidates for an open seat on the Recreational Lands Planning and Advisory Committee and urged commissioners to weigh both place-based representation and technical parks experience.
Corey Johnson, park supervisor for Clatsop County Parks Department, told the board he spoke with all three applicants and recommended considering Hayden Llewellyn for district representation while also noting that Matthew Grantham brings deep professional parks experience that would aid long-range planning.
Why it matters: The advisory committee helps shape long-range park plans and county comprehensive land-use changes related to recreational lands. Membership affects planning priorities such as accessibility, facility upgrades and management of county parks.
Candidates and staff summary Corey Johnson described Matthew Grantham as a parks professional with a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation management and experience with multiple agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Alaska State Parks and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). Grantham works for ODF and has on-the-ground operational experience.
Frank Snyder has lived in the county for decades, is a regular user of Cullaby and Sunset lakes and previously served on the American Legion board.
Hayden Llewellyn, who moved to the county about six years ago, has served on the board of an environmental nonprofit and said a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis 12 years ago gives him an informed perspective on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) issues and accessibility in park planning.
Staff recommendation and board comments Johnson said the county aims to include representation from each of its five commissioner districts; that goal makes Llewellyn a strong candidate for geographic balance. At the same time, Johnson told the board Matthew Grantham’s professional experience could be especially useful for long-range planning and large-scale recreation projects.
Commissioners noted the difficulty of replacing outgoing member Brad Catton — who brought Department of Forestry perspective — and praised the applicant pool. The board also highlighted existing committee member John Sayer’s longstanding ADA advocacy and said accessibility will be a priority for upcoming projects including a planned playground at the Westport boating park.
Next steps No formal appointment was made at the work session. Commissioners and staff said they will continue deliberations; the record does not show a final selection at that meeting.
