Del Norte LTC approves extension for executive director, directs sole‑source justification

The Del Norte Local Transportation Commission voted unanimously to extend the contract of its executive director and directed staff to prepare a sole‑source justification for the extension.

Commissioners took the action after staff highlighted Section 18 of the commission's consultant selection administrative guidebook, which allows a contract to exceed five years if prior concurrence of the executive director in consultation with legal counsel (or documented concurrence by the commission) is recorded. The guidebook requires a written sole‑source justification for any exercise of an option that would extend a contract's period of performance beyond five years.

The commission discussed two options: open the position to a request for proposals (RFP) or extend the current executive director's contract and document the reason for a longer term. A commissioner moved to extend the current executive director's contract and create the sole‑source document; another commissioner seconded the motion. After no public comment, commissioners voted in favor.

The executive director, who said he was originally awarded the position in February 2005, told the commission he plans to continue in the role. “I do intend to keep working. I, you know, absent some catastrophic life event, I planned for there to be a clear and smooth transition when I do decide to retire or when you elect to hire somebody else,” the executive director said. He also said he would respond to an RFP if the commission chose that route and would support a new hire through a transition.

Under the commission's guidebook language cited in the meeting, extensions or renewals beyond a five‑year term require documentation, and the commission authorized staff to prepare the required sole‑source justification to support the extension.

The commission also approved a consent agenda item (minutes for June 3) earlier in the meeting by voice vote.