HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-19-minutes-emergency-meeting03/19/2020 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 (via phone); Patti
Johnson, Solid Waste Director/Interim Maintenance Director/Project
Manager; Jerry Pettit, Auditor; and Lisa Young, Human Resources
Director.
EMERGENCY MEETING COVID-19 COMMISSIONERS
At 8:30 a.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened an Emergency Special Meeting
to discuss issues relating to the COVID-19.
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 who were considered
essential employees versus non-essential; authorized signatures;
cell phone stipends; and identifying department contacts as well as
their backups. Discussions were held on other 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 would like time to obtain further
information and continued the meeting until 1:30 p.m.
The meeting was recessed at 8:58 a.m.
CONTINUED EMERGENCY MEETING 1:30 P.M. COMMISSIONERS
Those present: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Jim Goeben, IT
Director; Lisa Murray, Administrative Assistant; Patti Johnson,
Solid Waste Director/Interim Maintenance Director/Project Manager;
Darren Higashiyama, Chief Deputy; 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.
At 1:30 p.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened the Emergency Special Meeting
continued from 8:30 a.m. There was discussion on the key functions
that were discussed earlier in the day. Darren Higashiyama, Chief
03/19/2020 MINUTES 2
Deputy said the key is going to be to try and control the spread of
COVID-19 at this point.
There was discussion on essential and non-essential positions.
Commissioner Wright, Lisa Young, and Judy Pless said they would work
on a policy relating to pay and how it would be handled if there was
a Shelter in Place issued. Dr. Larson provided an update on various
issues that the County needs to be aware of.
OTHER BUSINESS: EXECUTIVE SESSION:
At 2:41 p.m. Chairman Wachsmith announced the Board would recess
into Executive Session for 10 minutes with Lisa Young, Human
Resource Director; Neil Caulkins, Deputy Prosecutor and Jerry
Pettit, Auditor, 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 reconvened out of Executive Session. The
Board authorized putting an employee on paid Administrative Leave
for a time no longer than April 8, 2020, and to direct the
Prosecutors office and Human Resources Department to review the
matter further.
The Board also requested the Human Resources Department to contact
the candidates who were recently interviewed for the PIO position
and to delay hiring. KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON Julie Kjorsvik Brett Wachsmith, Chairman