The Hyack board of directors has gone into damage control mode, after the recent surprise firing of the man who many say breathed new life into the once-stale Hyack Festival.
Members of the Hyack executive recently let Douglas Smith go as the Hyack Festival Association's executive director, but have now asked him to return.
“The board directed me to re-hire to Douglas and to offer him his position back and for him to start on Monday,” said Ron Unger, a member of the board of directors. “And we’d like to know what conditions he may have around coming back.”
Unger was critical of Smith’s firing, which no one would give a reason for.
Hyack president Gavin Palmer didn’t want to comment on the matter when The Record contacted him.
“Because it is an employment matter, I will not make a comment at this time,” he said.
As for Smith, he hasn’t taken the offer of employment just yet. He’s seeking “counsel” and determining his options.
