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2018-03-20 PA UpdateProsecutor’s Update March 20, 2018 2:04 p.m. Present: Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, Jonathan Meyer, David Fine, Ross Petersen, Janelle Kambich, Archie Smith, Eric Eisenberg, Commissioner Stamper (2:09 p.m.) Guest: Natalie Johnson Recorder: Rieva Lester Jonathan Meyer discussed the hiring process for the paralegal position. He said he has three internal applicants. He said he also has advertised the attorney position but has not received any applications. He said he is considering dropping it down to a DPA I. Jonathan said he is seeking approval to add a legal assistant to Family Support and approval to change a legal assistant to a paralegal assistant. Archie suggested having a PAF submitted. Commissioner Jackson made a motion to create a legal assistant position in Family Support. Commissioner Fund seconded. Commissioner Stamper arrived at 2:09 p.m. Commissioner Fund noted that it’s a DPA IV position that is being downgraded to a legal assistant position. Janelle and Jonathan agreed. Motion passed 3-0. Commissioner Jackson made a motion to create a civil paralegal position. Commissioner Stamper seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Jonathan discussed a letter received regarding the Water-Sewer District Commissioner Position. He said the position can be allowed but that it creates a potential conflict of interest. Commissioner Fund discussed a letter regarding a vacancy in position 5. Jonathan said he has not received an inquiry. He said the county would step in if requested or if the Water-Sewer District did not make its appointment in time. TO-DO LIST / RECAP Jonathan: Work on Water Conservancy Board. Eric: Follow-up meeting on freeholders. Ross: Look into .09 committee. Janelle: Create the two PAFs. David and Eric: Work on facilitator for BOE. Eric Eisenberg discussed a reimbursement request for the ballot boxes. He said the claim for SSB 5472 Expenses has been rejected. He said the county could sue the state – or piggyback on another county’s lawsuit – for violation of the unfunded mandate statute. Commissioner Fund asked if there can be alternates for .09. Jonathan said he would have Ross look into it. Jonathan said he is considering which law firm the county should discuss potentially working with on the opioid lawsuit. Commissioner Fund asked who the BOCC should contact about the PFD review. Jonathan said he will be the point person. Commissioner Jackson said he plans to meet with a member of the PFD and then the BOCC will meet with the PFD as a whole. Eric Eisenberg said there may be a way to streamline Board of Equalization (BOE) work to avoid sending cases to the Board of Tax Appeals. He said he and David Fine discussed using a facilitator to create some process improvement. He said the thought would be to have the BOCC pay for it. He said it likely would cost under $1,000. David said the Department of Revenue will give guidance but that the Assessor’s Office and the BOE have been talking at each other instead of to each other. Commissioner Fund suggested seeing if the BOE and the Assessor’s Office could split the cost. Rieva Lester said Tom Crowson has indicated that the Water Conservancy Board would like to explore creating a stipend for the Water Conservancy Board. She also indicated the board has four members, one of whom has expressed interested in being an alternative. Rieva said it appears the bylaws call for three members and no alternates. Jonathan said he would look into it. Eric discussed the possibility of creating voting subdistricts. He said it likely would be legal to split the districts into subdistricts – and that the Auditor’s Office indicated it would be possible to run the election that way – but that it would mean more different types of ballots, it’s a lot more work, it’s not foolproof, and it could potentially narrow the talent pool via geography. Eric suggested using the three established commissioner districts. Commissioner Jackson discussed the need to focus on creating an alternative charter. Natalie left at 2:53 p.m. The group continued discussing the pros and cons regarding commissioner districts instead of creating subdistricts. Jonathan said he may schedule an information meeting about the freeholders in Packwood. At 3:08 p.m., Commissioner Fund announced that the Board was going into Executive Session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) for 15 minutes to discuss pending and potential litigation. Executive Session ended at 3:18 p.m. The meeting ended at 3:23 p.m. No decisions were made.