A familiar face will take over as Langley’s planning director through December.

Mayor Fred McCarthy said Jack Lynch, who spent several years as the city’s planner, was hired on a three-month contract to run the single-person department.

Lynch started Oct. 27 and fills in for former planning director Michael Davolio, who was placed on paid administrative leave Oct. 22. His contract calls for a $65 per hour rate with no more than 38 hours per week, which ends Dec. 18.

“I think that’s a very appropriate rate for a fellow with all the experience a fellow like Jack has,” McCarthy said.

This is the second time in a year Lynch has filled in for the city. He was hired as the interim director prior to Davolio while the city searched for its next director between October and December 2014.

Davolio remains on paid administrative leave, McCarthy said. The mayor declined to say why the decision was made, instead saying he wanted to let the “personnel process” go through.

Langley Community Planning is in the midst of several major tasks. McCarthy said he assigned three objectives to Lynch: A redrawn urban growth area will be presented to the Langley City Council at its regular meeting Monday, Nov. 2, updates to the comprehensive plan are ongoing, and creating a list of future and emerging projects.