SPRD executive director resigns

The Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Directors voted unanimously last Friday morning to accept the resignation of SPRD Executive Director Todd Garrett, who had assumed the position in late April.

In his resignation letter, Garrett cited inability to gain "access to requisite information to perform job duties" as a reason for his resignation.

"In addition to inhibiting my abilities to perform requisite tasks, the toxic environment I was thrust into," Garrett claims, hampered his ability to do the job and left him exposed to professional risk as the executive.

He stated he saw no value in participating in upcoming events and felt unwelcomed by the person contracted to run the events.

In a May 9 article in The Nugget, Garrett had indicated his appreciation for the help provided him by Shannon Rackowski to go forward with the summer's programs, particularly the Glory Daze Car Show, with which he was excited to be involved.

Subsequently, the car show and the Home Brew Fest were cancelled.

There have been numerous reports of a disconnect between Garrett and members of the SPRD staff. Despite this, the scheduled GNW running camp in June was a rousing success and the ongoing summer day camps for children are doing well, running near capacity.

Following a series of unsatisfactory interactions between Garrett and Rackowski, Rackowski cancelled her contract with SPRD to produce the community luau in August. Garrett reportedly had said on several occasions he had Hawaiian friends who could do it. Garrett was directed by the Board of Directors to come up with a plan for the luau to present at the July 10 Board meeting. At an earlier date, then Board President Bob Keefer had stated to The Nugget there would be a luau.

When asked for his plan on July 10, Garrett denied he had agreed to have a plan and asserted it would not have been possible to pull one together in a week's time. His interaction with current Board President Jeff Tryens became elevated and agitated. When Tryens told Garrett to "stop yelling at me or I will have to ask you to leave," Garrett stood up, put on his hat, picked up his papers, continuing to respond to Tryens, and exited the room, slamming the door.

The following day, Garrett failed to appear at work or call to say he wouldn't be in. No one knew his whereabouts. On Friday, July 13, he tendered his resignation, which was accepted by the Board. His resignation is effective July 27 and he is on administrative leave until that time. The Board has asked him to prepare some status reports during that time and to not enter the SPRD building.

Negotiations are currently underway regarding a separation agreement between the District and Garrett, to include a waiver from Garrett of all claims against the District.

Keefer has been charged with securing an interim executive director to make sure that day-to-day business operations of the District are uninterrupted. Until that person is on board, Tryens will have a regular presence at SPRD.

"Our primary goal at this time is to seamlessly serve the community," Tryens said.

He went on to acknowledge the hard work of the staff, who he said "has done a lot of business as usual given difficult circumstances. We're going to work this out."

Tryens also indicated that an announcement regarding whether or not the luau will take place would be made at the end of this week.