HomeMy WebLinkAbout027 15STATE OF WASHINGTON
County of Jefferson
A Resolution Regarding the Authority}
of the County Administrator }
Resolution # 27 -15
WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners (or "BoCC"), in
accordance with RCW 36.32.120(6) has as one of its duties "the care of the county
property and the management of the county funds and business ;" and
WHEREAS, the BoCC has authority, granted in accordance with RCW 36.32.340, "to
take such action as is necessary to effect coordination of their administrative programs;
and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority described above, the BoCC established the
position of County Administrator approximately 15 years ago to serve, in essence, as
the Chief Operating Officer of the County, which is a political subdivision of the State of
Washington and a municipal corporation; and
WHEREAS, the BoCC through Ordinance #09- 1002 -00, delegated the executive and
administrative duties, functions, and powers conferred upon the Board to the position of
County Administrator, memorialized limits to the authority, and further enumerated
specific powers and duties; and
WHEREAS, that Ordinance has been codified as Chapter 2.01 of the Jefferson County
Code; and
WHEREAS, this Resolution clarifies the executive and administrative authority for
certain personnel tasks or actions that has been delegated to the County Administrator
by the BoCC in Chapter 2.01 of the County Code;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Jefferson County Board of County
Commissioners as follows:
The County Administrator may undertake and complete all tasks or actions
arising from the dismissal, resignation, termination, grievance, or personnel
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action of a County employee, quasi - employee or volunteer, including, but not
limited to, the execution of releases, termination agreements, settlement
agreements and such other documents, records or writings required to resolve or
complete the employment action or claim, provided that 1) any such task or
action must be consistent with applicable law, County Resolution, or pertinent
Collective Bargaining Agreement; and 2) the County Administrator shall provide
prior notice to the Board of County Commissioners of any proposed agreement
or settlement in excess of $50,000 cost to the County.
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APPROVED this day of August, 2015:
ATTEST:
z
Clerk of thAoard
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OMCOMMISSIONERS
Johnson,
Kathleen Kler, Member
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" S;(-i Cc. GOAL.
C�.n�
Chapter 2.01
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Sections:
2.01.010 Positions created and �authorityydelegated.
2.01.020 Qualifications.
2.01.030 Appointment.
2.01.040 pmt s re authority.
2.01.050 Standards of conduct.
2.01.060 Deputy administrators.
2.01.070 Organization of the executive and administrative functions of the hoard of county
commissioners.
2.01.080 Powers and duties.
2.01.090 Construction.
2.01.010 Positions created and authority delegated.
(1) The position of county administrator is hereby created and included within the organizational chart for
Jefferson County.
(2) The position of county administrator is hereby delegated the executive and administrative duties,
11 functions, and powers conferred upon the board of county commissioners for the county, as a municipal corporation,
by the Constitution and the laws and statutes of the state of Washington.
(3) The position of interim county administrator is hereby created and included within the organizational
chart for Jefferson County, said position to remain vacant at all times when the position of county administrator is
occupied.
(4) Solely upon the vacancy of the position of county administrator, the interim county administrator is
hereby delegated the executive and administrative duties, functions, and powers conferred upon the board of county
commissioners for the county, as a municipal corporation, by the Constitution, laws and statutes of the state of
Washington. [Ord. 3 -07 §§ 1, 2; Ord. 9 -00 § 1]
2.01.020 Qualifications.
(1) The person appointed to the position of county administrator shall be determined to be qualified for
this position pursuant to the qualifications stated in the "Jefferson County Job Description: County Administrator,"
(Exhibit B to Resolution #82 -99) and as said job description may be amended in the future.
(2) The county administrator need not be a resident of Jefferson County at the time of appointment, but
shall within 90 days of his or her start date become and remain, while in office, a resident of the county. [Ord. 9 -00 §
21
2.01.030 Appointment.
(1) The county administrator shall be appointed by a vote of the board of county commissioners.
(2) Compensation and other terms of employment shall be set by the board and the appointed county
administrator through negotiation and execution of an employment contract. The terms of said agreement shall not
be in conflict with this chapter, or any state statute or regulation.
(3) Termination of the county administrator is by a vote of the board, at any time, subject to the terms and
conditions of the employment contract. [Ord. 9 -00 § 3]
=:=�) 2.01.040 Limits to the authority.
(1) This chapter does not affect any court, any constitutional officer, any elected statutory officer, any
special purpose taxing district board, or any municipality, except the necessary coordination of budgets, employee
regulations, risk management, facilities and equipment, and such other county interdepartment administrative
matters as may be appropriately delegated by the board.
(2) The county administrator, by the powers vested in JCC 2.01.080, has the authority to change or alter
the organizational structure, scope of duties, powers or obligations of any department or office appointed by the
board. [Ord. 9 -00 § 4]
2.01.050 Standards of conduct.
(1) The county administrator shall not hold any political office or take part in any political activity
relating to an individual member of the board of commissioners.
(2) The Code of Ethics for Municipal Officers, Chapter 42_23 RCW, and the penalties for violation
thereof as provided by law or more restrictive ordinances adopted by Jefferson County, if any, shall be applicable to
the county administrator, and appointees thereof.
(3) The county administrator shall be and shall remain during his /her tenure, a member in good standing
of the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) and function in adherence to the ICMA Code of
Ethics and its guidelines (see Attachment t to the ordinance codified in this chapter.) [Ord. 9 -00 § 5]
2.01.060 Deputy administrators.
(1) One or more deputy county administrators may be appointed by the county administrator, upon
position and budgetary approval by the board. Deputy administrators shall serve at the pleasure of the county
administrator.
(2) Should the position of county administrator be deemed vacant due to illness, leave, resignation or
termination, then the board of county commissioners shall, at a public meeting, appoint an interim county
administrator to fulfill the duties and obligations of the position of county administrator until such time as the
position of county administrator is filled by the board of county commissioners. Said appointment of an interim
county administrator shall expire after 120 days, but may be renewed unlimited times by the board of county
commissioners at a subsequent public meeting or meetings. [Ord. 3 -07 § 3; Ord. 9 -00 § 6]
2.01.070 Organization of the executive and administrative functions of the board of county
commissioners.
(1) All departments and offices carrying out the executive and administrative functions assigned to the
board shall report and be responsible to the county administrator.
(2) All departments carrying out the executive and administrative functions of the board shall have a
department or office director. The county administrator shall have the authority to appoint and remove said
directors. The county administrator may delegate the authority to appoint and remove staff within the director's
assigned department or office. [Ord. 9 -00 § 7]
2.01.080 Powers and duties.
(1) Appoint and remove from office a person or persons to fill positions that are defined statutorily to be
designated by the legislative authority, the board, except the clerk of the board, in which case said designation or
removal shall occur only after consultation with the board:
(2) Perform the full range of managerial oversight functions over all county administrative operations,
including financial management, planning, policy development, performance management, and prioritization of
fiscal, human, and capital resources;
(3) Establish organizational structure, budget levels, and staffing configuration within board- appointed
departments;
(4) Manage the operating budget for all county functions that are approved adopted by the board of
commissioners;
(5) Formulate and implement policies to carry out board directives. The final authority for legislative
policy adoption rests with the board of county commissioners as a legislative power. The county administrator is to
develop and analyze alternatives, and recommend a preferred course of action for the board's consideration and to
implement the approved policy of the board;
(6) Assist the board in various liaison functions;
(7) Provide selected centralized management functions in budget, technology, capital outlay /facilities,
human resources, and other support functions;
(8) Develop and present an annual budget consistent with law and pre - established board priorities;
(9) Implement and administer the board - approved annual budget;
(10) Develop, implement and operate the county's strategic, tactical and comprehensive plans, policies and
programs in each of the following support or internal service areas:
(a) Employee compensation, benefits and management of human resources;
(b) Budget and financial management;
(c) Technology planning and use;
(d) Capital facilities, purchasing and related functions;
(e) Public information, media relations and communications with citizens;
(11) Continuously monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the county's service delivery
and governance through a performance management system and provide a report in that regard annually to the board
of county commissioners;
(12) Have other investigative, managerial, supervisory, financial and other authorities as may be extended
to that office by future ordinances or resolutions of the board, within the limits of the laws and regulations of the
state of Washington;
(13) Represent Jefferson County at local, regional, state and federal levels of government as directed by
the board of commissioners. [Ord. 9 -00 § 8]
2.01.090 Construction.
It is the intent of the board of county commissioners in adopting this chapter that it shall be liberally
construed to achieve the objective of delegation of those executive powers necessary and appropriate to perform the
duties delineated herein. [Ord. 9 -00 § 9]
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CONSENT AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Philip Morley, County Administrator
DATE: August 3, 2015
RE: Resolution Clarifying the Authority of the County Administrator
STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The attached proposed Resolution seeks to clarify the executive and
administrative authority for certain personnel tasks or actions that has been delegated to the County
Administrator by the BoCC in Chapter 2.01 of the County Code.
ANALYSIS: Chapter 2.10 of the Jefferson County Code (JCC) creates the position of the County
Administrator within the organizational chart of Jefferson County. Section 2.01.010(2) JCC states, "The
position of county administrator is hereby delegated the executive and administrative duties, functions,
and powers conferred upon the board of county commissioners for the county, as a municipal
corporation, by the Constitution and the laws and statutes of the state of Washington." Section
2.01.040 JCC delineates limits to that authority, and Section 2.01.080 JCC further enumerates certain
powers and duties.
The proposed Resolution seeks to clarify the executive and administrative authority for certain
personnel tasks or actions that has been delegated to the County Administrator by the BoCC in Chapter
2.01 of the County Code, within certain provisos. The proposed Resolution states,
"The County Administrator may undertake and complete all tasks or actions arising from the
dismissal, resignation, termination, grievance, or personnel action of a County employee, quasi -
employee or volunteer, including, but not limited to, the execution of releases, termination
agreements, settlement agreements and such other documents, records or writings required to
resolve or complete the employment action or claim, provided that 1) any such task or action
must be consistent with applicable law, County Resolution, or pertinent Collective Bargaining
Agreement; and 2) the County Administrator shall provide prior notice to the Board of County
Commissioners of any proposed agreement or settlement in excess of $50,000 cost to the
County."
FISCAL IMPACT: None directly. Under the resolution, the County Administrator must provide prior
notice to the Board of County Commissioners of any proposed agreement or settlement in excess of
$50,000 cost to the County.
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the proposed Resolution with or without amendments.
ED
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clip Mori 0 unry �strator Date