Published: July 02, 2009 10:41 pm      

Officials yet to provide details of county administrator search

CUMBERLAND — Allegany County Human Resources Director Brian Westfall said he is unable to answer questions about the county’s search for a new county administrator for “at least a couple of more weeks.”

Westfall left a voice mail message with the Times-News on Thursday in response to an inquiry on the status of the search to replace Vance Ishler. County Attorney Bill Rudd announced March 19 that Ishler no longer was a county employee, although no reason was given. Speaking on condition of anonymity, county officials have since said Ishler failed to account for his whereabouts on multiple occasions.

The Times-News asked Westfall to answer questions about how many candidates there are for the position, from where they came and what types of professional backgrounds those who submitted application materials might have. The application deadline was Monday.

“I’m generally pleased with the response we got,” Westfall said. “They seem to be a well-qualified group.”

Westfall said he wanted to brief the county commissioners first. He indicated the commissioners’ individual vacation schedules could preclude that briefing from taking place for two weeks or more.

“Until then, I don’t think I’ll be sharing any information,” Westfall said. “Yes, I’ve sort of collated what’s come in (but) until I can meet with all three commissioners as a group, I can’t really say much more.”

The search was to be a national one, the commissioners said. In April, Commissioner Bob Hutcheson said the board opted to act as the selection committee along with Westfall because they know what a county administrator’s responsibilities are.

Hutcheson said then there was no rush to hire Ishler’s successor. During the budget process this spring, the commissioners endorsed delaying the hiring until as late as October. The delay could save the county approximately $50,000.

Acting County Administrator David Eberly, a possible candidate for the position, referred all questions to Westfall.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.