HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-19-minutes-executive-committee-mgmt-team2022-10-19 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
CONFERENCE ROOM
SPECIAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY 9:00 A.M. OCTOBER 19, 2022
Board members present: Chairman Laura Osiadacz and Commissioner
Brett Wachsmith. Excused: Vice-Chairman Cory Wright.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Chelsey Loeffers,
Public Health Director; Mike Hougardy, Assessor; Katrina Mankus,
Juvenile Court Administrator; Amy Cziske, Treasurer; Mark Cook,
Public Works Director; Brian Carlson, Budget & Finance Director;
Phil Backlund, Consultant; and 1 member of the public.
SPECIAL MEETING MANAGEMENT TEAM COMMISSIONERS
At 9:00 a.m. Chairman Osiadacz opened a Special Meeting to meet with
the Management Team’s Executive Committee.
CERTIFICATION DIGITAL ASSURANCE CERTIFICATION AUDITOR
Commissioner Wachsmith moved to approve and authorize the Chairman
to sign a Pricing Agreement with Digital Assurance Certification,
LLC, Disclosure-Dissemination Agent Services. Chairman Osiadacz
seconded. Motion carried 2-0.
Amy Cziske, Treasurer, said the Management Team had a half-day
retreat on Friday October 7th which was a follow up to the one-day
retreat back in July. She said the Management Team completed their
Strategic Plan and tried to tie it to the Commissioners plan. Their
overall focus was on employees and trying to unify everyone.
Chairman Osiadacz felt there wasn’t very much included in their plan
that refers to serving the public. Mike Hougardy, Assessor,
explained that if they could work towards increasing efficiency and
employee betterment, it would most certainly increase public
service. Mark Cook, Public Works Director, explained how everyone
seemed to be in favor of getting all permitting departments under
one roof and how it would be an overall benefit the public.
Ms. Cziske said one of their 90-day goals were to have a work from
home standards policy in place. The Management Team would like to
know what the Commissioner’s vision was for employees across the
board. Chairman Osiadacz said the Board recognized the need for
flexibility with remote abilities, wherever possible. Mark said
everyone should evaluate their positions and define what positions
were essential to those who interface with the public. Commissioner
Wachsmith felt the County was losing employees to other places that
offer a work from home option, and by offering it, it could be a
perk for recruitment and retention. They agreed to have Jeanne
2022-10-19 MINUTES 2
Killgore, HR Director, draft a proposal and then get buy-in from the
Management Team followed by presenting it to Board of County
Commissioners. Amy offered to reach out to Jeanne to let her know.
The Management Team is committed to establish equity across the
board and how there’s a need to review and address exempt employee
benefits including, vacation, longevity, and timekeeping. Mark
recommended to begin the review with longevity since it’s already in
place with the unions. He felt it would be somewhat of a low-cost to
the County. Amy offered to work with Jeanne on drafting a policy. It
was suggested to have Brian Carlson, Budget & Finance Director, to
bring a financial impact to the Commissioners since they are
currently discussing the 2023 budget.
The State will be ending the COVID-19 emergency order at the end of
October and the County needs to ensure their policies are also
rescinded. Jeanne is already looking into it for the County.
The Policy Committee will not be the ones who write policies but
will be reviewing them to ensure they are applicable. Amy reviewed a
new form that will be used to begin processing draft policies.
Amy asked if there was anything the Board would like to relay back
to the Management Team, as communication goes both ways. The Board
expressed their appreciation to the Management Team and how they’ve
been doing great work.
The meeting was concluded at 9:50 a.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Laura Osiadacz, Chairman