Status in question for Johnson County's communications center director

 Johnson County's joint emergency communications center may be looking for a new executive director.

The center's board met in closed session Friday morning to discuss a legal matter and has scheduled another meeting for 8 p.m. Monday to talk about the leadership of what is commonly known as the JECC, John Lundell, chairman of the center's policy board and a Coralville City Council member, said Friday.

The current director, Gary Albrecht, began a paid medical leave of absence  Tuesday, Lundell said. He said he could not say more about the matter.

Albrecht referred questions on his job status to Lundell. Asked he if could say “yes” or “no” on whether he is still the JECC executive director, Albrecht said, “I can't say anything.”

Albrecht started at the communications center in January 2011, after serving in law enforcement communications roles in Michigan. He took over for the late Mike Sullivan, who resigned in April 2010 after being arrested for drunken driving.

The joint emergency communications center opened in summer 2010 and combines dispatchers and radio systems for public safety and emergency medical personnel in the county.

It is run by a seven-member policy board with representatives from the county, Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty and the Johnson County Emergency Management Agency.

Johnson County's supervisors have been critical of the center's management and its budget.

Other JECC board members referred questions on Albrecht to Lundell.

On Thursday morning, Lundell told The Gazette that Albrecht was on medical and was still the center's executive director. He also said he expected Albrecht to return to work if things went well.

Asked Friday if that is still the case, Lundell said Albrecht is still the executive director, the leadership of the communications center is the topic of discussion Monday night and he'll be able to answer more clearly after that meeting. He said a closed session will be on the agenda.

Asked if he expected Albrecht to be the executive director a week from now, he said: “I can't speculate on that at this point. It's all personnel and health-related, two things I can't really speak about at this point.”

Albrecht's current annual salary is $79,825.

Tom Jones, the center's associate director and IT manager, is serving as interim executive director in Albrecht's absence.