Pilar Fotta, the downtown coordinator for the town of Boone, has been hired as the town’s new cultural resources director, a position created this year.

Boone Town Manager Greg Young announced the decision at Monday’s Cultural Resources Board meeting along with board Chairman Frank Mohler.

“She’s done a great job in the transition from the Arts Council to what’s going on now, as well as picking up the programs and continuing with art at the house,” Young said.

The Boone Town Council approved the new staff position as part of the 2012-13 budget, in addition to another full-time cultural resources employee and a part-time employee.

The new department was created as the result of the town’s decision last spring to end its contract with the Watauga Arts Council to manage the Jones House and instead directly manage the town’s cultural facilities via new staff members and the new Cultural Resources Board.

Boone’s cultural facilities include the Jones House, Horn in the West amphitheater, Hickory Ridge Homestead and Rivers house.

Young said he advertised the director’s position to town staff internally and did not seek external applications.

“I’ve been pretty much interim doing the job over the last several months, so I was surprised and also flattered that they were considering me for this position,” Fotta said. “I see it as a wonderful opportunity to really take a step forward with the cultural resources that Boone has. We have an amazing inventory, and I’m excited about the possibilities that we have ahead of us.”

Young said he is currently conducting interviews for the part-time cultural resources position and has not yet finalized job duties for the other full-time position, which will primarily focus on the Jones House.

As for the downtown coordinator position, who acts as the staff administrator for the Downtown Boone Development Association and its tax-funded programs and physical improvements, Fotta will continue to facilitate downtown projects until the vacancy is filled. Fotta will also help train the new downtown coordinator.

“I have no intention of leaving downtown or the projects that we started anytime soon,” she said. “I was very pleased I would be able to continue with the projects and see them through. Just because my title has changed, my love and my passion and my dedication to downtown has not.”

Fotta will continue to work on the project to restore the Appalachian Theatre as an ex-officio member of the theatre’s new Board of Trustees.

“It is my intention to finish what I started there. That project is very important to downtown and also to the town,” she said. “I want to make sure that it gets off to the most positive start that I can.”

The salary range for the cultural resources director is between $57,721 and $72,151, Young said.