City-run museum board now fully staffed

The City of Aberdeen fully restaffed its museum board at the City Council meeting this week, naming a brand new slate of members.

The eight members are: Randy Beerbower (serving one year); Les Bolton (two years); Jamie Brand (one year); George Donovan (three years); Don Lentz (two years); Michael Schmidt (three years); John Shaw (three years); and council member Jeff Cook. The board was approved by a vote of the council.

The board, officially titled the Board of Museum and History, is tasked with eventually rebuilding the Aberdeen Museum of History, which burned in June’s Armory building fire. At the time of the fire, the board had been inactive for years and the museum had mostly been run under the auspices of Friends of the Museum, a volunteer group independent from the city. The Friends group continues to be active.

Mayor Erik Larson decided to restaff the Board of Museum and History so the city could have more direct oversight over the museum’s future.

The only two board members who don’t live in the City of Aberdeen are Jamie Brand (Hoquiam) and Don Lentz (Wishkah Valley). Larson said he didn’t think it was necessary to restrict appointments to Aberdeen residents.

“I evaluated candidates based on their experience in similar roles, community connection, and volunteerism,” Larson wrote in an email. “… I didn’t feel it was necessary to restrict the appointments to only those with an Aberdeen address.”

The city-run museum board will meet the first Tuesday of each month at Aberdeen City Hall at 7:30 p.m., but board members could decide to change the time.