SEQUIM — City Manager Steve Burkett is still contemplating what to do with the planning director position vacated Oct. 31 when Dennis Lefevre agreed to resign.

“I am just beginning to think more about that,” Burkett said. “Probably in February, I will make a decision on what I want to do on that.”

In the meantime, Burkett said, he is keeping close tabs on interim Planning Director Joe Irvin.

“He’s got a lot on his plate,” Burkett said, including zoning reform and downtown planning.

Irvin, whom Lefevre hired as associate planner fresh out of college more than five years ago, was named interim planning director when Lefevre left.

Lefevre resigned from the position he had held for more than eight years.

It was a decision Burkett said was reached on mutual terms.

In recognition of Lefevre’s years with the city, Burkett said he offered him a severance agreement that will pay his monthly salary plus about $1,100 a month to cover health insurance costs for up to six months or when he finds new employment, whichever is first.

Lefevre was making $84,612 a year, and the City Council has approved a salary range for the planning director position between $79,992 a year to $105,996 a year, depending on experience.

Irvin now makes $52,860 a year, and Burkett said he had not decided whether he would renegotiate Irvin’s salary with the new responsibilities.

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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.