TRPA appoints interim director

STATELINE " The Tahoe Regional Planning agency has a new head honcho.

The agency's governing board has named TRPA legal counsel Joanne Marchetta as the interim replacement for Executive Director John Singlaub, whose resignation becomes effective today.

Marchetta, who is vacationing in India, was not available for comment.

The appointment lasts for 60 days, but discussion among board members on Wednesday revealed Marchetta is the front-runner to fill Singlaub's role permanently.

Some board members expressed concerns about Marchetta's appointment, but more than half of the board's 15 members said they would likely support Marchetta taking over the executive director role.

"I really think she is the ideal candidate," said board member Shelly Aldean.

Several board members said Marchetta is an excellent candidate because the agency needs a director who is already familiar with the agency's projects " including an update to the TRPA's regional plan.

Singlaub told the board he is concerned about one person simultaneously filling the roles of executive director and legal counsel for the TRPA, which is battling legal threats from both sides regarding its update to Lake Tahoe's shorezone ordinances.

Although Singlaub said he is confident in Marchetta's ability to fill the executive director position, he said he felt it would be "more fair" to Marchetta to appoint Deputy Executive Director Jerry Wells on an interim basis.

By appointing Wells on a temporary basis, Marchetta would have more time to prepare for her potential role as executive director.

Board member Mara Bresnick said she also troubled by the appointment, saying she thought it was "highly inappropriate" to take action without Marchetta present on Wednesday.

An executive director candidate needs to meet with board members and present a vision for protecting Lake Tahoe, Bresnick said.

Several recently appointed TRPA board members said they were uneasy with the prospect of appointing Marchetta, noting they have little, if any, knowledge of the attorney's qualifications.

"Being an administrator to an agency like this is completely different than providing legal counsel to this agency," said John Breternitz, Washoe County's member on the board.