MORGANTOWN – Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director Bill Austin told the MPO Policy Board Thursday evening that he intends to retire at the end of the fiscal year.
“I will not be seeking to extend my contract past June 30th. I am retiring. So, I wanted to let the policy board know that,” he said, adding, “It’s an exciting time for my wife and myself.”
An MPO is a federally-mandated transportation planning body designated for every urban area with a population of 50,000 or more.
Austin will have led the Morgantown Monongalia MPO for 17 years when he steps away.
MPO Policy Board Chair Russ Rogerson said the search for Austin’s replacement will begin shortly.
“So, you’ll be seeing advertisements in local, state, regional trade publications and the like. We found Bill, I believe, on a national search because he was in Florida before he came to Morgantown,” Rogerson said. “So we’re going to look far and wide to see if we can get the best candidate possible for our community.”
Austin is only the second executive director to lead the local MPO. Chet Parsons was the first, serving from October 2003 to May 2008.
Ron Justice – one of a small handful of members to serve on the board since its inception – recalled the change in leadership.
“It was a time when we were in transition, losing Chet at the time. He provided really strong leadership. Bill stepped right in and followed that up and continued to build,” Justice said. “We were lucky to get Bill, and we were happy that you were interested in Morgantown and happy we were able to hire you. In reflection, it was a great hire. So, thank you.”
Austin said he looks forward to helping his successor transition into the role and plans to remain local in the event he can be of service in the future.
“I’ve always been committed to the community,” he said. “I want it to succeed.”
