HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-19-minutes-emergency03/19/2020 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE ROOM EMERGENCY SPECIAL MEETING
THURSDAY 8:30 A.M. MARCH 19, 2020
Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith and Commissioner
Cory Wright. Absent: Vice-Chairman Laura Osiadacz.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Patti Johnson, Solid
Waste Director/Interim Maintenance Director/Project Manager; Jerry
Pettit, Auditor; and Lisa Young, Human Resources Director.
EMERGENCY SPECIAL COVID-19 COMMISSIONERS
At 8:30 a.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened an Emergency Special Meeting
to discuss issues relating to the COVID-19 situation.
There was discussion on the Public Health Officer’s press release
and what the difference was of his recommendation to “shelter in
place” versus it being required and its effect to County employees.
Some other issues that were discussed included essential employees
versus non-essential; authorized signatures; cell phone stipends;
and identifying department contacts as well as their backups. Some
other items brought up were key functions of the County including
legislative, sanitation, infrastructure, public safety/health,
justice system, finance/payroll, IT, legal, and employees.
The Board indicated how they’d like to obtain further information
and continue the meeting until 1:30 p.m. in the Commissioners
Auditorium and to invite other key personnel to attend.
Meeting was recessed at 8:58 a.m.
The Emergency Special Meeting was reconvened at 1:30 p.m. in the
Commissioners Auditorium.
Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith and Commissioner
Cory Wright.
Those present: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Jim Goeben, IT
Director; Lisa Murray, Administrative Supervisor; Patti Johnson,
Solid Waste Director/Interim Maintenance Director/Project Manager;
Darren Higashiyama, Chief Operations; Amy Cziske, Treasurer; and on
the phone was Mandy Buchholz, Deputy Clerk of the Board II; Judy
Pless, Budget & Finance Manager; and Neil Caulkins, Deputy
Prosecutor.
03/19/2020 MINUTES 2
There was discussion on key functions if a mandatory Shelter in
Place was issued and what essential versus non-essential would
entail; paid sick leave, etc. Commissioner Wright, Judy Pless, and
Lisa Young agreed to work on a policy regarding pay and how it is to
be handled. Dr. Mark Larson provided an update on some important
issues that the County may face due to the Coronavirus outbreak. OTHER BUSINESS EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 2:41 p.m. Chairman Wachsmith announced the Board would recess
into Executive Session for 10 minutes with Neil Caulkins, Deputy
Prosecutor and Jerry Pettit, Auditor; Lisa Young, Human Resource
Director, to consider to discuss with legal counsel representing the
agency matters relating to agency enforcement actions, or to discuss
with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential
litigation to which the agency, the governing body, or a member
acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party,
when public knowledge regarding the discussion is likely to result
in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency.
Potential action anticipated.
At 2:51 p.m. the Board recessed out of Executive Session. The Board
directed Staff to place the employee on paid Administrative Leave
for no longer than April 8th and to direct legal and Human Resources
to look into the matters further.
The Board also asked Ms. Young to reach out to the candidates for
the PIO position and let them know they are delaying hiring due to
the issues facing the County relating to COVID-19.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:52 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON Julie Kjorsvik Brett Wachsmith, Chairman