PORT ANGELES — A professional recruiter expected to cost $15,000 plus expenses will be hired to find a replacement for former city Finance Director Yvonne Ziomkowski, the City Council decided Tuesday at a work session.
City Manager Kent Myers fired Ziomkowski March 15 for dishonesty and neglect of duty after a State Patrol investigation concluded she approved vacation cash-outs for herself that exceeded city policy by $29,673.
The State Patrol, which completed its report Feb. 14, recommended eight criminal charges be brought against Ziomkowski, including first-degree theft, falsely auditing and paying claims, and wire fraud.
The Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office, which is handling the case, had not filed charges in the case as of Thursday afternoon.
Ziomkowski has said she did not intentionally violate city policy and that she disagreed with the allegations against her.
Councilman Dan Di Guilio warned that the council should expect criticism from the community for not being able to hire someone without a consultant.
“We need to be prepared to defend that,” he said.
But the city faces a hurdle in attracting qualified candidates because the firing put the city in a bad light, Human Resources Director Bob Coons said in recommending a professional recruiter’s services.
“We are not looked at as a favored city with the finance director being fired,” he said.
Myers intends to pay the new director at the bottom of the pay scale compared with Ziomkowski, a 23-year city employee whose annual salary was $112,547.
“There will be some salary savings,” Myers said.
The hiring process will include a public forum or reception, Myers said.
Myers said Tuesday he also is interviewing candidates to serve as interim finance director for three to four months to replace acting Finance Director Linda Kheriarty, who he said is getting behind in her other projects because of her additional duties.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.