briann harms - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-29T11:03:37Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/briann+harmsBoca Raton: Interim Beach and Park District director to stay on job until Januaryhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-interim-beach-and-park-district-director-to-stay-on-jo2016-06-29T14:35:45.000Z2016-06-29T14:35:45.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Steve Plunkett</strong><br /><br /> The Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District’s interim executive director will stay on the job an additional three months.<br /> Arthur Koski, who is also the district’s longtime attorney, said in May he would step aside as interim director on Oct. 1 and recommended that Briann Harms, his assistant executive director, take over the top spot.<br /> But at the June 6 meeting, Harms said the timing was not right.<br /> “In light of the upcoming elections, I think it would be more appropriate for us to address this at our management meeting in January when we elect officers,” she said after thanking Koski for his recommendation and the district’s commissioners for supporting it.<br /> Two commission seats are being contested in the Aug. 30 election. The five commissioners customarily pick their chair, vice chair and secretary-treasurer at the first meeting of the calendar year. <br /> “As long as Art’s good with continuing with the Sunday phone calls [from commissioners] coming in, I think we can wait until then,” Harms said.<br /> No commissioner has suggested looking for other job candidates. <br /> “Briann knows how we feel about her,” District Chairman Robert Rollins said. Boca Raton city officials have been pressuring the district to hire a full-time director for months. Officials in December included a clause in a proposed contract between the two governments requiring the district to have a full-time director. City Council member Robert Weinroth made a similar demand in a March email to the district.<br /> Koski became the district’s interim director after Robert Langford retired in 2012. Koski also has a private law practice downtown.</p></div>Boca Raton: Interim beach and park chief to step asidehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-interim-beach-and-park-chief-to-step-aside2016-06-01T14:14:15.000Z2016-06-01T14:14:15.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Steve Plunkett</strong><br /><br /> Arthur Koski, longtime attorney for the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, will relinquish his additional role as interim executive director of the agency Oct. 1.<br /> Koski, who has been under attack from city officials seeking a full-time director, said his decision to step aside was not a result of outside pressure.<br /> “None whatsoever,” he said. “It takes an issue off the table.”<br /> Boca Raton city officials last year included a clause in a proposed contract between the two government entities requiring the district to have a full-time executive director. City Council member Robert Weinroth made a similar demand in a March 15 email.<br /> “For the record ... I believe the District needs to [make] securing a permanent executive director as a top priority,” Weinroth wrote.<br />Koski became the district’s interim director after Robert Langford retired in 2012. <br /> In Koski’s private law practice, he represents two city residents who are suing Boca Raton to block construction of a chabad on the barrier island.<br /> Koski, who announced his intention to quit at the district’s May 24 meeting, recommended that district commissioners promote Briann Harms, the assistant executive director, into the top spot.<br /> “She’s ready,” he said.<br /> District Chairman Robert Rollins signaled his desire to change the status quo earlier in the meeting. <br /> “We probably need a full-time executive director,” he said.<br /> Harms has been with the district since 2005. She started as a recreation center supervisor at the district’s Sugar Sand Park, became information supervisor for the district in October 2013 and was named its assistant director a year later. <br /> She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Florida State University.<br /> Commissioners appeared ready to embrace Koski’s recommendation for his successor. They will make a decision at a future meeting. <br /> “I think you can see, we all appreciate the talents you bring to the board,” Rollins told Harms. <br /> “It’s really a joy, Briann, to see young professionals coming up and fulfilling their potential,” Commissioner Earl Starkoff said.</p></div>