HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution ending emergency updated JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Carolyn Gallaway, Clerk of the Board
DATE: April 10,2023
SUBJECT: In the Matter of Repealing Resolution No. 12-20 re: Declaration of Emergency of
the Covid-19 Pandemic, and Repealing and Replacing Resolution No. 49-22 re:
Adopting a 13th Temporary County Policy Based on Emergency Response to the
COVID-19 Pandemic; to Add New Temporary Personnel Policies
STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Throughout the pandemic,efforts to address COVID-19 have
evolved. The County adopted 13 resolutions to address issues related to the pandemic,which
included temporary HR policies for the COVID-19 emergency declared by the Board of County
Commissioners. At the state level, Governor Jay Inslee declared a State of Emergency in all
Counties in Washington State to due to the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19
virus on February 29, 2020.
On September 8, 2022, Governor Jay Inslee announced an end to COVID-19 emergency orders.
Governor Inslee ended the state of emergency on Oct. 31, 2022. At the April 3, 2023 meeting of
the BoCC, Dr. Berry has indicated that we are in the endemic phase of epidemic,meaning that
COVID-19 will be a part of our daily lives for the foreseeable future. Given the current lower
risk of serious disease and death due to COVID-19, it seems an appropriate time to consider
ending the public health emergency. The Human Resources Director has stated there is a need to
keep some temporary personnel policies in place, and those recommendations are attached to the
proposed Resolution.
ANALYSIS: The Board of County Commissioners should consider and should potentially take-
action on the attached proposed resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact of this request is unknown.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners consider for adoption the
attached proposed resolution.
REV +D BY:
Monte Reinders Date
Acting County Administrator
STATE OF WASHINGTON
COUNTY OF JEFFERSON
In the Matter of Repealing Resolution No. 12-
RESOLUTION NO. ____
20 re: Declaration of Emergency of the Covid-
19 Pandemic, and Repealing and Replacing
Resolution No. 49-22 re: Adopting a 13th
Temporary County Policy Based on Emergency
Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic; to Add
New Temporary Personnel Policies
WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee declared a State of
Emergency in all Counties in Washington State to due to the public health emergency caused by
the COVID-19 virus; and,
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the
outbreak of COVID-19 to be a pandemic; and,
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
approved a Declaration of Emergency due to the COVID-19 Pandemic; and,
WHEREAS, on September 8, 2022, Governor Jay Inslee announced an end to
COVID-19 emergency orders and the state of emergency by October 31, 2022, including an end
to Proclamation 20-25; and,
WHEREAS, the Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, declared
by Proclamation 9994 on March 13, 2020 under Section 319 of the Public Health Service (PHS)
Act, will expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023; and,
WHEREAS, the Human Resources Director has stated there is a need to keep some
temporary personnel policies in place; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Jefferson County
Commissioners that:
1. Based on changing circumstances and improving conditions in Jefferson County and
more broadly related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of emergency declared in
Resolution 12-20 no longer exists in Jefferson County.
2. Open public meetings are no longer required to be conducted in virtual formats.
However, virtual meetings have increased the transparency of government and allowed
for more robust public participation. Accordingly, the Board of County Commissioners
encourages all Jefferson County Boards and Committees to offer online or hybrid-format
meeting options; and,
3. Meetings can be held at maximum capacity levels once again; and,
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4. The Jefferson County Personnel Administration Manual is amended to add Temporary
Health and Safety Workplace Requirements (attached as Appendix I). The Temporary
Health and Safety Workplace Requirements (attached as Appendix I) contain standards
for public service and accountability, and is necessary to maintain the efficiency of
governmental operations. Employees who fail to follow the requirements of the Jefferson
County Personnel Administration Manual, including the Temporary Health and Safety
Workplace Requirements (attached in Appendix 1), are subject to disciplinary action and
termination for just cause; and,
5. This Resolution repeals Resolution No. 12-20 and repeals and replaces Resolution No.
49-22 of Jefferson County, and shall be effective immediately.
(SIGNATURES FOLLOW ON THE NEXT PAGE)
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APPROVED AND ADOPTED this ______ day of ____________, 2023.
SEAL: JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
__________________________________
Greg Brotherton, Chair
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Heidi Eisenhour, Member
__________________________________
______________________________________ Kate Dean, Member
Carolyn Gallaway, CMC
Clerk of the Board
Approved as to form only:
Barbara Ehrlichman,
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
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APPENDIX I
Temporary Health and Safety Workplace Requirements
Section 1 Sick Employees Must Stay Home
To help prevent the spread illness, employees must follow the following workplace
requirements
to keep all co-workers safe. This includes temporary/seasonal employees.
1. If you are sick, please contact your supervisor immediately and stay at home.
2. Medical certification from your health care provider may be required.
3. If you need to stay home to care for a sick family member, please do so. During this
time, more workers may need to stay at home to care for sick children or other sick
family members than is normal.
4. Employees may use individual leave accruals in accordance with this Manual (e.g., sick
leave, vacation, floating holidays, and Comp Time) and may be eligible for WA State
Paid Family & Medical Leave.
Section 2 -- Frequent and Adequate Hand Washing
To help prevent the spread of disease, employees must follow these workplace requirements:
1. Wash hands frequently and regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as
needed and including: when arriving at work, coming and going from different
worksites, taking breaks, using the restroom, before and after eating, drinking or using
tobacco products, after sneezing or coughing, and after touching surfaces or handling
objects touched by others or suspected of being contaminated.
2. Use hand sanitizer (between handwashing) after touching surfaces or handling objects
touched by others or suspected of being contaminated.
3. Do not touch mouth, nose or eyes with unwashed hands.
Section 3 Responses to a State of Emergency
In response to State of Emergency, the County shall protect the health and safety of its employees.
The County shall comply with health and safety workplace requirements in accordance with
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries and the Washington Industrial Safety and
Health Act Chapter 49.17 RCW. The County Department of Health and the HRD shall recommend
to the Board of County Commissioners specific recommendations to address any State of
Emergency that may be adopted by resolution and be included in this Manual during the State of
Emergency.
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