Process Begins for New Administrator

The announcement of Door County Administrator Maureen Murphy’s resignation came via email late in the afternoon of Oct. 3 in the form of a resignation letter to Dan Austad, chairman of the Door County Board of Supervisors.

“I make this decision for two reasons,” Murphy wrote. “First, I have accepted the position of executive director of the Volunteer Center of Door County. I have had the pleasure of serving on the Volunteer Center Board of Directors for the past three years and have been inspired by the work the Volunteer Center does to connect volunteers with the 400 or so nonprofits in Door County. …Second, my extended family has medical needs that require that I travel more frequently and the Volunteer Center position will allow me the flexibility that my schedule requires.”

Her resignation is effective Nov. 3.

“Not a total surprise. I was told ahead of time something like this might happen,” Austad said several days after receiving the letter.

The next step for the county is for the seven members of the Administrative Committee to decide how to proceed with everything from salary range to advertising for a new hire.

“That committee has seven long-term, strong-minded people on it,” said Austad, who chairs the committee. He is joined by Roy Englebert, Ken Fisher, David Lienau, Richard Virleee and Leo Zipperer.

The Administrative Committee meets at 8:30 am on Oct. 21.

The full board will also have to appoint an interim administrator at its Oct. 28 meeting. The last time that happened, when previous county administrator Michael Serpe was removed from office in early 2012, Corporation Counsel Grant Thomas was chosen to serve as interim director from March 2012 until Murphy was hired to start work on Oct. 1, 2012.