PORT ANGELES — The former economic development director for the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe is the city’s new economic and community development director.

“This is a good opportunity for me. It’s kind of a lateral move,” said Mark Madsen, who began at City Hall this week.

Madsen said he conducted his university graduate research on natural resource-based communities in transition, which describes Port Angeles.

Two other things that make him good for the job: working with communities, including Native American tribes, and experience in managing troubled projects.

Madsen assumes a newly expanded role vacated by Tim Smith, the city’s first-ever economic development director who retired in November.

He said that when he worked for the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe until 2002, he was known as one of Clallam’s economic “Three Amigos,” along with Smith and departing Clallam County Economic Development Council Executive Director Jim Haguewood.

Department reorganization

Madsen steps into the expanded position created as part of a departmental reorganization approved by the City Council in December.

His salary will be $84,540 a year.

The new position combines the duties of economic development director, formerly held by Smith, and community development director, formerly held by Brad Collins.

Smith was rehired on a temporary basis until the position was filled. Collins became the city’s planning manager, answering to Smith — and now Madsen.