Blair County Planning Commission members Thursday accepted the resignation of longtime Executive Director David W. McFarland III.

McFarland, who has been battling health issues and has been on leave since April 6, did not give a reason for his resignation, which was effective Thursday.

The decision came following a nearly 70-minute executive session.

Meanwhile, planning commission members named secretary Rodney Green as interim acting executive director.

Commission members also voted to ask Blair County commissioners to send a letter requesting the state Department of Community and Economic development review the commission’s processes and protocols and come back with a report.

Green said he will aid in the search for a new permanent executive director. He said he agreed to serve as interim executive director because he has experience in that area.

Green has served as superintendent of the Spring Cove School District and on both the Spring Cove School Board and Roaring Spring Borough Council.

McFarland had served as executive director since August 2009. Prior to that, he worked as a planning administrator for the City of Altoona from May 2000 to February 2008.

He had come under fire because of the county’s hazardous mitigation plan, which expired in early 2025 and had not been updated. The planning commission is the body responsible for updating the plan.

The delay in preparing to update the plan started in 2024 with staff changes and staff shortages, McFarland said in February. Then in 2025, he said that his health issues and medical leave added to the delay.

In February, the Blair County commissioners asked for resignations from four members of the planning commission — James Dixon, Herbert Shelow, Nicola Ardizzone and Todd Lewis. Dixon, Shelow and Ardizzone resigned, but Lewis remained a member after he went through a hearing that he had requested.

Meanwhile, Regional Planner MacKenzie Caron, who has been serving as acting planning director since April 6, said she has heard back from FEMA regarding the hazardous mitigation plan.

She said FEMA has received the plan and suggested some revisions which will be completed by Stuart Group Consulting. Caron said she hopes the revised plan will be submitted to PEMA very soon.

In one other personnel matter, commission members accepted the resignation of Rodney Estep as treasurer and named Jessica Sheets to fill the position. Estep will remain a member of the board.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.