HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-10-minutes-executive-management-advisory-committee-presentation2023-05-10 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
CONFERENCE ROOM
SPECIAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY 2:00 P.M. MAY 10, 2023
Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright, Vice Chairman Brett
Wachsmith, and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz.
Others: Mandy Buchholz, Office Administrator; Dan Carlson, CDS
Director; Mark Cook, Public Works Director; Chelsey Loeffers, Public
Health Administrator; Amy Cziske, Treasurer; Bryan Elliott, Auditor;
and Brian Carlson, Budget & Finance Director; Eric Johnson, WSAC
Facilitator and 4 members of the public.
SPECIAL MEETING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PRESENTATION PROSECUTOR
At 2:00 p.m. Chairman Wright opened a Special Meeting to receive a
presentation of the Executive Management Advisory Committee
Findings.
Eric Johnson, WSAC Facilitator provided a handout (Kittitas County
Executive Management Analysis) and reviewed a PowerPoint that
covered the work of the Committee tasked with making a
recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.
He reviewed with the Board the process they used for developing the
recommendation. He stated that the group met with a total of 8
County Commissioners, some that have an Administrator structure in
place as well as those who don’t, which allowed them to make
recommendations on the role and authorities of a County
Administrator type position to provide supervision for the County
functions and operations overseen by the Board. He reviewed
organizational chart for the County functions and operations
overseen by the Board; strategic financial management and budget
planning structure with oversight of process under County
Administrator; and a position description for a County
Administrator. Mr. Johnson stated that the group had been meeting
since October of 2022 and the meetings were 4 hours long. They
included interviews with Staff, Elected Officials and others. He
stated that they were very thoughtful in working through
alternatives, ideas and options, and then solidified their
recommendation in April.
He reviewed what prompted the Board’s interest in looking at
options. He stated that there is an increase in BoCC External
Engagement and Representation; a desire to allow the BoCC to Focus
on Strategy, Policy, and Implementation Oversight; BoCC Emphasis on
Developing and Guiding Mission and not Day to Day Management
2023-05-10 MINUTES 2
Activities; Improving BoCC Communication Internally and Externally;
Improve Professional Public Administration; and to Reduce the Number
of Direct BoCC Reports.
He reviewed the goals for Administrative Organizational Structure
Criteria explaining that it would be to provide professional public
administration, leadership and management; increase efficiency and
effectiveness; assist in providing strategic direction; intentional
communication; support external opportunities for BoCC; improve
personnel management.
He discussed the importance of creating a inter-departmental finance
team agreement to stipulate responsibilities between the County
Auditor’s Office, BoCC and the County Administrator with a Budget
and Finance Manger Team Lead. He provided tips for success when
implementing a new executive position and stated that they can’t
expect perfection, and they need to do lots of preparation,
planning, communication, managing, and leading in the transition is
essential. He stated they will need to evaluate and modify as
necessary, and they would be wise to create a system to implement
modifications while creating efficiencies and improving
effectiveness.
He stated that the recommendation for the Board is to establish a
County Administrator Position; Clear Separation for the BoCC to
focus on leadership, legislative functions, policy, internal and
external collaboration; County Administrator to oversee day to day
management and departmental supervisory functions; Additional re-
structuring of departments reporting to the County Administrator. He
stated that the CEMAC recommends the Board take the following
actions as soon as possible: Proceed with authorizing the creation
of a County Administrator Position; and appoint persons to develop a
transition plan to implement County Administrator structure to be
presented to the BoCC by August 15, 2023.
The Board heard from members present of the CEMAC with their support
of the proposal.
Chairman Wright directed Staff to set up a follow up meeting for
approximately 3 weeks out for the Board to give direction.
Commissioner Osiadacz stated that she would like a meeting with the
Board prior to any formal decision to discuss further as she had
questions that there were not time for today. She also felt she
would like to get an opinion or feedback from the County Management
Team, all prior to a Board meeting.
The Board thanked Eric and those present from the CEMAC for all the
work and thought they put into the report.
2023-05-10 MINUTES 3
The meeting concluded at 2:50 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Mandy Buchholz Cory Wright, Chairman