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2023-08-08 minutes
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
CONFERENCE ROOM
SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 11:00 A.M. AUGUST 8, 2023
Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright; Vice-Chairman Brett
Wachsmith; and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz.
Others: Kate Jimenez, Administrative Assistant, Jeanne Killgore,
HR Director, Greg Zempel, Prosecutor, Eileen Murphy, Public
Defense Director, Brian Carlson, Budget and Finance Director,
Andrew Yoder, Acountant II Auditor’s Office, Elisha Harvill,
Chief Administrator Prosecutor Office, Jodi Hammond, Chief
Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Office.
SPECIAL MEETING ATTORNEY RECURITMENT PROSECUTOR
Chairman Wright opened a Special meeting at 11:01 a.m.
Greg Zempel discussed the current need for raising salaries in
the Prosecutor’s office. Mr. Zempel explained the challenges
they have been facing in employee recruitment and retention. Mr.
Zempel partnered with Brian Carlson, Budget, and Finance
Director to put together a wage salary increase proposal based
off their salary research to be presented to the Board.
Brian Carlson presented options for the Prosecuting Office
salary range increases.
Chairman Wright asked if the salary range proposal was all based
off 1 data point, the Cabot Dow data. Jodi Hammond, Chief
Criminal Deputy Prosecutor, said it is based off more than 1
data point, they also use the data such as the 39 Washington
county wage disclosure reports.
There was discussion regarding what the plan for implementation
of salary changes will be.
The Board discussed fairness of the proposed plan and if there
is enough data from the Cabot Dow study and Department vacancies
to move forward with a decision of salary change immediately. It
was discussed that given the current case overload for County
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2023-08-08 minutes
attorneys there is a urgent public need to adopt a salary
increase.
Chairman Wright said they would adopt the DPA (Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney) 3 and Chief and Director Salary Scale.
numb
Chairman Wright would like HR to draft a Resolution to retro pay
the DPA 2 and 1 salaries.
Jeanne Killgore, HR Director, Eileen Murphy, Public Defense
Director, Brian Carlson, Budget and Finance Director,
Andrew Yoder, Acountant II Auditor’s Office, Elisha
Harvill, Chief Administrator Prosecutor Office, Jodi
Hammond, Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Office left at
11:50 a.m.
OTHER BUSINESS
EXECUTIVE SESSION PROSECUTOR
At 11:50 a.m. Chairman Wright announced the Board would recess
into Executive Session with Greg Zempel, Prosecutor, under RCW
42.30.140(4), To evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for
public employment or to review the performance of a public
employee. However, subject to RCW 42.30.140(4), discussion by a
governing body of salaries, wages, and other conditions of
employment to be generally applied within the agency shall occur
in a meeting open to the public, and when a governing body
elects to take final action hiring, setting the salary of an
individual employee or class of employees, or discharging or
disciplining an employee, that action shall be taken in a
meeting open to the public; for five (5) minutes. There was no
action anticipated.
At 11:55 a.m. the Board reconvened out of Executive Session.
There was no action taken.
At 11:55 a.m. Chairman Wright announced the Board would recess
back into Executive Session with Greg Zempel, Prosecutor, under
RCW 42.30.140(4), To evaluate the qualifications of an applicant
for public employment or to review the performance of a public
employee. However, subject to RCW 42.30.140(4), discussion by a
governing body of salaries, wages, and other conditions of
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2023-08-08 minutes
employment to be generally applied within the agency shall occur
in a meeting open to the public, and when a governing body
elects to take final action hiring, setting the salary of an
individual employee or class of employees, or discharging or
disciplining an employee, that action shall be taken in a
meeting open to the public; for five (5) minutes. There was no
action anticipated.
At 12:00 p.m. the reconvened out of Executive Session. There was
no action taken.
Meeting concluded at 12:00 P.M.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Kate Jimenez Cory Wright, Chairman