HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-07-minutes-200pm-public-hearing11/07/2017 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
COMMISSIONERS AUDITORIUM
SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 2:00 P.M. NOVEMBER 7, 2017
Board members present: Chairman Paul Jewell; Vice-Chairman Laura
Osiadacz; and Commissioner Obie O’Brien.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Lisa Young, HR Director;
Chris Horner, Deputy Prosecutor; Neil Caulkins, Deputy Prosecutor;
Jerry Pettit, Auditor; and approximately 25 members of the public.
PUBLIC HEARING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING TRANSPARENCY COMMISSIONERS
At 2:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN JEWELL opened a Public Hearing to consider
allowing for Collective Bargaining Transparency.
LISA YOUNG, HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR provided a Staff Report and
explained how the Board of County Commissioners previously received
a request from the Freedom Foundation to hold collective bargaining
contract negotiations in an open public meeting format. She
indicated the Open Public Meetings Act permits collective bargaining
negotiations to be exempted from requirements of the Open Public
Meetings Act (OPMA). The Board met with key stakeholders on several
occasions and at the last meeting they directed Staff to prepare
documents necessary to consider an amendment to County Code for
their consideration.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: SEAN JEFFRIES, PRESIDENT OF IUOE LOCAL
302 felt the proposal was a bad public policy and questioned if it
was even legal. He said they believed it serves as a lack of trust
and disrespect on both sides of management and labor. PETER
STARZINSKI, NW ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT provided reasons why they
opposed the Freedom Foundation and submitted an article into the
record. GEORGE VERHEAL said he was a retired operating engineer who
negotiated with public agencies in the past. He spoke against the
proposal and felt there was plenty of oversight with how the system
is currently working. MATTHEW HAYWARD, FREEDOM FOUNDATION indicated
they had previously submitted information into the record. He said
they conducted an Elway Poll and 79% of Eastern Washington voters
are interested in moving forward with the proposal and encouraged
the Board to approve the proposed Ordinance. LINDA HAWK explained
how she had belonged to both public and private unions. She provided
reasons why she believed the Board should not approve the proposed
Ordinance. STEVE BRUCKMAN, BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE OF TEAMSTERS
LOCAL 760 felt there is nothing that indicates there’s a problem and
strongly urged the Board to oppose the Ordinance. BILLY WALLACE
spoke in opposition of the proposal and said the County knows what
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they are doing and to not approve opening negotiations up to the
public. TOM CASH, REPRESENTING AFSCME said he has been involved for
approximately 8 years in contract negotiations and they have had no
issues. He said it’s been an interactive process and fair. CARL
KELLER, REPRESENTATIVE FOR UNION 760 indicated he’s been working
with County for 3 years it’s gone very well and urged the Board to
oppose the proposal from the Freedom Foundation. THERE BEING NO
OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS
CLOSED.
ORDINANCE 2017-010 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING TRANSPARENCY HUMAN RESOURCE
COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ moved to approve Ordinance 2017-010, An
Ordinance Establishing a New Section of the Kittitas County Code to
Increase Collective Bargaining Transparency. COMMISSIONER O’BRIEN
seconded.
COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ explained how the Board of Commissioners has
been looking at opening up union negotiations to the public for some
time and she’s heard a lot of testimony from both sides. She
indicated Kittitas County has been working at being more transparent
to the public including live streaming of their Agenda Sessions and
she felt it would be another step forward. She said the taxpayers
have the right to know how their money is being spent. COMMISSIONER
O’BRIEN said County government doesn’t have an option to be in
private meetings other than what’s listed in a very small section of
the RCW. He didn’t think it would harm the Unions and it would be in
the best interest of the public so they can stay educated and
informed. CHAIRMAN JEWELL said some of the County’s biggest
contracts are with Unions and the public has the right to know
what’s in them. He said the items relating to wages should be done
in public and felt it would be a good balance for everyone involved.
Motion carried 3-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:50 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Paul Jewell, Chairman