2024-09-16-minutes-county-administrator

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09/16/24 MINUTES 1 COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COMMISSIONER’S CONFERENCE ROOM SPECIAL MEETING MONDAY 1:00 P.M. SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith, Vice-Chairman Laura Osiadacz, and Commissioner Cory Wright. Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Bryan Elliott, Auditor; Brian Carlson, Budget Finance Director; Zack DeHaven, Assistant Finance Director; Amy Cziske, Treasurer; and 4 members of the public. SPECIAL MEETING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR COMMISSIONERS At 1:00 p.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened a Special Meeting to discuss and decide on the creation of a County Administrator position. Terry LaRue provided citizen comments on the lack of transparency on the proposed change to County government and urged the Board to vote against creating a County Administrator position. Marlene Pfiefer spoke against the proposed County Administrator position, due to financial reasons. Bryan Elliott, Auditor, reviewed the County Executive Management Development Committee Report. He noted the report had been previously reviewed by the Board at a prior meeting. He said the committee did not make a formal recommendation on whether to create the position or not. Chairman Wachsmith said he saw the benefits in the position but wanted to wait to see how the budget looks. Commissioner Wright said he was the one who brought up the idea a couple years ago and spoke in favor of creating the position, He noted how it’s now been through 2 different committees who’ve provided a substantial amount of information for the Board’s consideration. Vice-Chairman Osiadacz said she wasn’t necessarily opposed to the idea, nor did she know which model would be best, but could not support it as stated, at this time. She was concerned with the finance piece and said the County was currently focusing on attrition, which including the Commissioner’s office not filling one of their positions. She felt larger offices should be trying to do the same when vacancies become open. Vice-Chairman Osiadacz moved to support the concept of an Executive Manager, as a way of moving towards becoming more efficient, as the County continues to grow and mature. Charman Wachsmith seconded. Motion carried 3-0. Commissioner Wright cautioned the idea of a Chief of Staff, as he felt it could be a dangerous, slippery slope.