SEQUIM — Olympic Theatre Arts trustees on Thursday countered criticism of the board’s decision to find a new executive director, describing what they called a “thorough” and “agonizing” process leading to the conclusion that the job had outgrown its current leader.
The account differed starkly from the one offered by supporters of Cj Augustine, whose contract runs out next month.
The board of trustees decided last week not to renew Augustine’s contract, which has a faction of OTA crying foul.
Augustine’s supporters accused the board of wanting to water down the group’s theater mission in favor of using an updated arts complex as more of a community center — a contention that trustees admit is true to an extent.
But it’s not central to the board’s decision regarding Augustine, said board member Gil Simon.
Once a loosely organized group that rented theater space, Olympic Theatre Arts now owns a large building on North Sequim Avenue, has year-round offerings and is in the middle of an ambitious fund-raising campaign, he noted.
‘This is a big business’
“As a majority of the board, we felt we needed different management,” Simon said.
“This is a big business. We need someone with the background and experience to run a big business.
“The board has agonized over this for more than a year. . . . That [May 17 meeting] was, ‘Do it or get off the pot.’
“We tried to do it confidentially, gracefully. . . . To take it public [is] disappointing.”
He also acknowledged that the board would like to see the arts facility used for more community events, such as fund-raisers and civic club meetings.
