Jul. 20--A move by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission board on Tuesday to relieve executive director Doug Austen of his duties might have rocked the boat within the agency, but one commissioner assured that anglers and boaters won't notice a difference in the services the agency provides.

The PFBC board reassigned Austen from his executive director duties to focus on three areas: the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act; reauthorization of the Sportfish and Boating Restoration Act (also known as the Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux Act), which provides about 20 to 25 percent of the agency's funding; and climate change legislation.

According to commissioner Norm Gavlick of Kingston, Austen can stay with the agency until Jan. 1, 2010 or when he finds a position elsewhere, whichever comes first.

Gavlick said the agency will name an interim director, most likely someone already with the PFBC's senior staff, in the next few weeks and then a search committee will be formed to find a new executive director. He said it was important to have someone already within the agency assume the role of interim director because they are already familiar with agency operations.

In a statement released by the agency on Thursday, commissioner Len Lichvar said the move wasn't made in response to any problems the board had with Austen. "Philosophical differences between a board and its chief executive officer frequently happen and this in no way reflects any performance issues on the part of Dr. Austen, as some newspapers have reported."

In Thursday's announcement, the PFBC board and Austen said they mutually agreed to a transition in leadership of the organization.

"Both the board of commissioners and Dr. Austen intend to make this transition happen in a seamless manner such that the activities of the agency will not suffer nor will our efforts to protect, conserve, and enhance the resources be in any way reduced," said immediate past-president Lichvar.

"Philosophical differences between a board and its chief executive officer frequently happen and this in no way reflects any performance issues on the part of Dr. Austen, as some newspapers have reported," Lichvar said.

Austen agreed that such a transition can happen in an orderly manner.

"I respect the board's authority to find a new executive director when there are differences in philosophy and will assist in any way possible to ensure that the work of the commission proceeds without delay," he said.

Gavlick was vacationing in Oregon when the board met early in the week and made the decision. He said he found out about the developments when he called a fellow commissioner on Monday.

"I was probably more concerned than surprised about how this was going to pan out," Gavlick said. "But I have a lot of confidence in the commissioners to do what they need to do and handle this in a professional manner."

Gavlick assured the move will not affect the day-to-day operations of the agency and the decision shouldn't be construed that serious problems exist within the PFBC.

"The agency has been and will continue to be a well-run operation and I don't think this should be considered a sign of trouble," Gavlick said.

Austen, 49, joined the PFBC in January 2004 and came from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Last week's action wasn't the first attempt by the board to remove him as executive director.

In March 2008 reports circulated that the commissioners considered removing Austen until Gov. Ed Rendell's office intervened.

Gavlick, who wasn't appointed to the board until June 2008, declined to go into detail about any possible problems that existed between Austen and the board.

"There were philosophical differences that existed between a number of commissioners and the executive director and I think it flared up last year and continued," Gavlick said. "The governor's office is aware of what's going on and they are being informed of the process."

Calls to PFBC headquarters in Harrisburg and the governor's office seeking comment weren't returned on Friday.

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