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COMMISSIONERS’ MINUTES <br />KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON <br />BOCC CONFERENCE ROOM <br />REGULAR MEETING <br />HR STUDY SESSION <br /> <br />TUESDAY 10:00 AM 5/28/2019 <br /> <br />Board members present: Cory Wright, Laura Osiadacz <br />Others: Greg Zempel, Dan Carlson, Chris Horner, Lisa Young, Jeanne Killgore <br /> <br />CALL TO ORDER <br />The meeting was called to order at 10:00 AM. <br />REQUEST TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION CORRECTING THE SALARY OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY <br />HR Director Young reintroduced the discussion surrounding the error that was discovered in the <br />Prosecutor’s salary, which had been briefly reviewed with the Board on 5/6/2019. She explained that in <br />addition to the increases in State contribution that had gone unpaid to the Prosecutor since 2014, the <br />Prosecutor has brought forth an additional wage concern from 2009-2010. She presented a resolution <br />to the Board that would bring the Prosecutor’s salary to the current and accurate wage as of 5/01/2019, <br />accounting for the current State contribution. Director Young added that the Resolution also discusses <br />the history of discrepancies back to 2009. She explained that in 2006 the wages for elected officials <br />were set by the Board of County Commissioners for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2008, the State <br />passed SSB 6297, which provided a contribution from the State equal to one-half of a Superior Court <br />Judge’s salary toward the salary of Prosecuting Attorneys. The Commissioners in office at that time <br />chose to freeze the County’s portion of the Prosecutor’s salary for 2009 and 2010 rather than granting <br />the wages that had been set by Resolution 2006-79. She indicated that the reasoning may have been <br />that since the overall wage was still increasing, freezing the county’s portion was not a reduction in pay. <br />Deputy Prosecutor Horner advised the Board that he did some legal research regarding this decision. He <br />found little documentation regarding similar issues experienced by other counties. He advised that <br />given the dollar value of the correction and the lack of guidance surrounding the issue, he would likely <br />recommend it be paid. Prosecutor Zempel commented that the Constitution states that wages for <br />elected officials cannot be decreased once they have been set. Commissioner Wright moved to table <br />the issue until all Board members are present. Commissioner Osiadacz stated that she supported the <br />correction and seconded the motion. Motion was approved; 2:0. <br />DISCUSSION/DECISION – STIPEND FOR ADDITIONAL DUTIES <br />HR Director Young presented a request from Undersheriff Myers to grant an exception to Personnel <br />Policy 5.2 Special Compensation. The Office Administrator at the Sheriff’s Office has taken on additional <br />Law Enforcement Clerk duties during the recruitment process, including additional work on public