Source: Rendell halts board’s act

A move by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission board to remove its executive director was thwarted last month when a Gov. Rendell staffer intervened, according to sources close to the agency.

Commission board members explored the possibility of removing Doug Austen from his post. The matter attracted the attention of the governor, and a Rendell staffer warned commissioners they would be removed if they fired Austen, sources said.

A spokesman for the governor said the issue has been resolved. Austen, who remains in his position, submitted the agency’s annual report to the House Game and Fisheries Committee last week.

Reports of a problem between the commissioners and Austen surfaced during the Jan. 29 meeting in Harrisburg.

Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo said the governor’s office conveyed its opinion to the commissioners and reiterated Rendell’s support of Austen.

“There certainly was a disagreement with the board. Since that time we believe the issue has been resolved,” Ardo said.

Ardo declined to go into detail about the issue that caused the rift. He said the administration has a “great deal of faith” in Austen and described him as “able and uniquely qualified.”

When asked if Rendell threatened to remove the commissioners, Ardo said there was a “candid conversation between the two sides.”

William Sabatose, president of the board of commissioners, declined comment but said the board has “no quarrel” with the governor’s office, and that there didn’t appear to be any interference from the administration.

State Rep. Ed Staback, D-Olyphant, chairman of the Game and Fisheries Committee, said the problem was resolved. Staback wasn’t surprised Rendell became involved because previous administrations have gotten involved in the affairs of independent state agencies.

Greg Levengood, chairman of Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, said it was wrong for the governor to interfere with commission matters. “Regardless of Doug Austen’s actions, the board was dissatisfied with what he was doing. It’s none of the governor’s business,” Levengood said.

Rocco Ali, president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, said he has never had problems with Austen, adding the executive director is working toward instituting a youth fishing license that would give the agency more federal funding.

“He has always been forthright with us. When it comes to the inner workings, I don’t know,” Ali said.

One commissioner, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Austen had done a “remarkable job” the first few years after he was hired in 2004. But lately, the commissioner said, Austen has pushed aside the board’s authority.