Phillips interim director 450th Commission

The appointed, but yet unfunded, federal commission overseeing the 450th anniversary of the settlement of St Augustine in 1565, has named a local official employed by the National Park Service as its interim director while the search for a permanent director and elusive dollars continues.

Administrative Officer at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Lindsey Phillips, was appointed according to Mayor and federal commissioner Joseph L. Boles, Jr., partially satisfying one desire expressed that whomever the federal commission selects to be the executive director, be someone stationed in St Augustine.

During Monday evening’s city commission meeting, Boles told fellow city commissioners that Phillips would serve until “at least September, 2012” when hoped-for congressional funding may be appropriated.

The authorizing legislation called for $500,000 a year in funding for operation of the federal commission from 2009 through 2015 — none of which has been appropriated.

City commissioners also agreed Monday night to discontinue 3:30 p.m. workshops before the regular commission meetings; wrapping future 450th commemoration reports and discussions into to the agenda for meetings that are televised beginning at 5:00 p.m.