2017-02-15 PA UpdatePA Update
February 15, 2017
2:11 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Stamper, Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, Steve Walton, Daleyn
Coleman, Becky Butler, Janelle Kambich, Jonathan Meyer, Glenn Carter
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Jonathan Meyer said Shane O’Rourke and Jim Haslett disagree with his legal interpretation about
Position 2 on the Napavine City Council. Jonathan then discussed further concerns regarding Napavine.
At 2:18 p.m., the board went into Executive Session for 10 minutes under RCW 42.30.110 to discuss
pending litigation.
Executive Session ended at 2:26 p.m. No decisions were made.
Commissioner Stamper discussed Jonathan Meyer’s request for approval to give bonuses. He asked for
specifics regarding Jonathan’s budget.
Jonathan said the prosecuting attorney’s office left a position dark to allow for cold case detectives. He
said he has no room in his budget for the bonuses at this time.
He said Casey would go back to the civil side as the county creates a PDR position. He said anyone who
needs a PDR attorney would have to pay for that. He said it’s risky to do away with legal counsel for help
with PDRs.
Jonathan said the PA’s office will stop representing the county when it comes to PDRs. He also said there
is talk of caseload standards for prosecution and defense, which would require the hiring of six to eight
positions.
Becky asked for clarification about the caseload standards.
Commissioner Stamper said his view would be to use Archie Smith’s suggestion to re-examine the salary
scale. He asked if it would be outside the scope as to whether the county could do that.
Jonathan said he looked at a lump sum because it would be a one-time shot. He discussed the recent
findings regarding the Port of Seattle’s gifting of public funds.
Commissioner Stamper said that since 2016 is over, it’s unclear whether additional funding would be
legal. Glenn Carter said the book is essentially closed on 2016. He also said step increases would have a
cumulative effect.
The group discussed the use of a grade increase instead of a step increase.
Glenn said that the recent Port of Seattle finding wouldn’t apply to collective bargaining.
Becky discussed turnover in the PA’s office.
Glenn said the board could increase the grade or the step in an effort to close the books on year 2016
and 2017.
The group discussed concerns surrounding the “me too” clause.
Daleyn Coleman said she would have concerns about the “me too” issue. She discussed handling the pay
bump as a reclass.
Glenn said two options to explore would be whether to reclassify or whether to do it horizontally, as a
step increase.
Jonathan said he has compression concerns about using grade increases. Glenn said he didn’t foresee
compression being an issue.
Commissioner Stamper said he wants to explore a follow-up meeting.
Jonathan asked for clarification about the PDR position being created under Risk.
Commissioner Fund described the position as a point person for the county. Jonathan asked whether
Casey’s position would go away. Commissioner Fund said the new position would be that of a manager /
administrator for GovQA, setting policy, etc.
Commissioner Fund left at 2:55 p.m.
Commissioner Stamper discussed the previous day’s meeting with Tacoma Power.
Glenn left at 3 p.m., and Janelle left at 3:05 pm.
The group discussed moving the location for the Napavine City Council applicant interviews, which are
scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28.
Meeting ended at 3:25 p.m.