HomeMy WebLinkAbout08 22 Cc 141(1
JEFFERSON COUNTY
STATE OF WASHINGTON
In the Matter of Establishing )
June 19th of each year,Juneteenth,) RESOLUTION NO. 08 22
As a Recognized Holiday in )
Jefferson County, and a Paid )
Holiday for County Employees )
WHEREAS, on June 19th, 1865, two and a half years after the signing of the
Emancipation Proclamation, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas and proclaimed the last
remaining slaves to be freed in the United States; and,
WHEREAS,while this day marked the emancipation of all slaves, the institution of
slavery was still legal and existed in the Union border states until the ratification of the 13th
Amendment to the Constitution of the United States on December 6, 1865, which abolished
slavery entirely in all of the U.S. States and territories; and,
WHEREAS, since 1866, Juneteenth has been widely celebrated with cultural festivities
to mark the end of a defining and painful era in US history; and,
WHEREAS, on June 14, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners proclaimed June
19th, 2021 to be Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating African American liberation; and,
WHEREAS,the Washington State Legislature passed House Bill 1016 effective July 25,
2021, which established the nineteenth day of June, recognized as Juneteenth, as a state legal
holiday; and,
WHEREAS, during observed County holidays most County offices are closed to the
public, and,
WHEREAS,the County of Jefferson has observed holidays that employees are paid for
when not worked; and,
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of County employees to have written observed
holidays; and,
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of County employees to keep the personnel
administration manual as up to date as possible and to have it reflect current practices; and,
WHEREAS,the following is an updated list of Jefferson County Holidays;
Holiday Date
New Year's Day January 1
Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday 3rd Monday in January
President's Day 3rd Monday in February
Memorial Day Last Monday in May
Juneteenth June 19th
Independence Day July 4th
Labor Day 1st Monday in September
Veteran's Day November 11th
Thanksgiving Day 4th Thursday in November
Day after Thanksgiving Friday after Thanksgiving
Christmas Day December 25d'
One Floating Holiday Date to be selected by mutual
agreement of the employee and
their Departmental Director
and,
WHEREAS,the updated list of Holidays will be added to the Personnel Administration
Manual;
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED, by the Jefferson County Board of County
Commissioners, Jefferson County, Washington that Juneteenth will be included as a recognized
Holiday for Jefferson County and its employees and will be included in updates to the Jefferson
County Personnel Administration Manual.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED,that this Resolution becomes effective on February 22,
2022.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 2Z' day of February, 2022.
i 4f, JEFFERSON COUNTY
BO OF COMMISSIONERS
SEAL
H Chair
a .
reg Brotherton, Member
ATTES
x
Caroly Gallaway, CM(I Kate ean, Member
Clerk of the Board
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Mark McCauley,Interim County Administrator
Sarah Melancon, Human Resources Manager
DATE: February 22,2022
SUBJECT: Resolution Establishing Juneteenth as a Legal Holiday for the County
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of African Americans who had been enslaved in the
United States. Juneteenth is now celebrated annually on June 19th throughout the United States, with
increasing official recognition. Juneteenth, or June 19th, is recognized as a Federal Holiday, as a State
Holiday and as a recognized holiday in many other County and City governments.
Juneteenth is commemorated on the anniversary date of June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the signing
of the Emancipation Proclamation, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas and proclaimed the last
remaining slaves to be freed in the United States. While emancipation is celebrated on this day, the
institution of slavery was still legal and existed in the Union border states until the ratification of the 13th
amendment to the Constitution of the United States in 1865, which abolished legal slavery in the U.S.
ANALYSIS:
The Washington State Legislature, in April 2021, passed a bill making Juneteenth an official, paid state
holiday that took effect in 2022. Numerous other County and City governments now recognize Juneteenth as
a paid, local holiday.
RECOMMENDATION:
Add Juneteenth as a recognized, paid holiday to the list of other recognized, paid County Holidays.
REVIEWED BY:
02/70
Mark McCaule , nterim County Administr Date