Logo courtesy Fair Oaks Park and Recreation District

FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) – At their Jan. 21 meeting, the Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District (FORPD) Board of Directors discussed appointments for the Fair Oaks Recreation and Arts Foundation, which they are working to shift into to a separate entity, pending bylaw approval by the California Secretary of State. 

The FORPD directors have always served concurrently as the board for the foundation, which is a nonprofit serving as the main fundraising agency supporting the district and the Fair Oaks community. Under the proposed bylaws of the new foundation, its board would have five to seven members, with up to two of those seats reserved for FORPD directors. 

District Administrator Mike Aho recommended that they select two members to serve on the new foundation board, so the process of appointing community members to the remaining seats can begin as soon as they get official bylaw approval. 

Chair Raymond James Irwin and Director Ralph Carhart volunteered to serve on the foundation board, which was approved 4-0, with Director John O’Farrell absent. 

The board then considered approval of the district administrator salary range, as Aho is set to retire this June. A consultant group is now undertaking the recruitment process for his replacement. 

Based on a regional salary survey from a couple years ago, Aho said the typical salary range for similar positions was $123,679 to $148,621. 

After adjusting for cost-of-living increases, considering the unique responsibilities of managing the new and expanded district facilities, and ensuring a competitive rate to attract top candidates, Aho recommended a range of $132,500 to $164,300. 

The board would negotiate benefits packages and set the actual salary from within that range based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience. 

The board voted 4-0 to approve the salary range and direct the consultants to include it in their recruitment brochure for the position. Chair Irwin added that he would like to hear feedback from the consultants: “If they think this should be adjusted, I would like to know that.”

The board also approved a recruitment timeline for hiring the new district administrator. 

With the brochure finalized and the position posted by the end of January, applications will be reviewed by late February/early March and initial interviews conducted by the board’s Management and Personnel Subcommittee (comprised of Chair Irwin and Director O’Farrell) later in March. In early April, the full board will interview the top candidates, with the goal of extending an official offer by mid-April so the candidate can begin employment in May. 

Director John O’Farrell is planning to resign his seat in June, with his term running until the regular election of November 2028, so the board discussed options for filling his seat. 

The board can call for a special election, conducted by Sacramento County Voter Registration Office. However, the district’s share of costs for the 2024 general election was over $58,000, so a special election would be even more expensive. 

The board also has the option to appoint a resident from within the FORPD boundaries to complete the term.  

If the board does not decide on either of those options, then the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will appoint someone to fill the vacancy. 

Director Carhart said in the past they have posted the vacancy to the community, reviewed applications, and selected a replacement. He recommended that the Management and Personnel Subcommittee would be best suited to reviewing the applicants. 

Chair Irwin questioned if there was any conflict with O’Farrell overseeing the process of selecting his replacement. Aho explained that while O’Farrell wouldn’t be able to sit in on deliberations or have a vote in the process, he can conduct the interviews and make recommendations to the board. 

“I think at the end of the day we’re saving our taxpayers a lot of money to do it that way,” said Irwin. “I think it’s the right decision for us to appoint.” 

With O’Farrell leaving in June, the board agreed they should vote on the appointment in May. So, the vacancy will be posted in March, with interviews held in April.

The next meeting of the FORPD Board of Directors is scheduled for Feb. 18.