HomeMy WebLinkAbout050125 email - RE_ PUBLIC COMMENT to be distributed to SWAC membersMr. Thiersch,
We could debate over whether Mr. Deese, as an employee of Waste Connections, stood to gain directly or indirectly by his vote to recommend to the BoCC that they accept staff’s recommendation.
But that would miss the larger point that if there’s an appearance of a conflict of interest this alone should have been avoided and for that I apologize for not having thought of this
ahead of the meeting and for not making SWAC aware of the bylaw at the top of this agenda item.
The bylaws provide no penalty for a violation of them but I will make Mr. Deese and the rest of SWAC aware of it and apologize to them as well for not providing appropriate guidance.
As requested in the subject line, I will share your correspondence with the SWAC members.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Al Cairns
Solid Waste Manager
Jefferson County Department of Public Works
acairns@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:acairns@co.jefferson.wa.us>
(360)385-9213
From: Tom Thiersch <tprosys@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 1, 2025 4:48 PM
To: Al Cairns <ACairns@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENT to be distributed to SWAC members
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
To the members of SWAC:
From: Tom Thiersch tprosys@gmail.com <mailto:tprosys@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 1, 2025 4:47 PM
To: BoCC - Jefferson County Board of Commissioners jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: Violation of SWAC Bylaws
Commissioners,
During the Special Meeting of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC), the SWAC voted “to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners that we privatized recycling programs after
April 1st, 2026”.
Mr. Deese voted in favor of the motion. Mr. Deese’s employer, and hence he personally, stands to gain a large amount of business if the county adopts that recommendation of the SWAC;
i.e., Mr. Deese will experience both an indirect and likely a direct financial benefit.
The fact that he was allowed to vote was a clear violation of the SWAC bylaws.
So, what is the penalty for such a violation? There seems little point in having any bylaws if compliance is optional and there are no consequences for violations.
Tom Thiersch
----------------------------
References:
SWAC meeting recording on Laserfiche @ about 50 minutes from the start.
SWAC Bylaws: https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/20915/SWAC-By-Laws-2025
Page 6: “Members of the SWAC shall abstain from voting on any decisions of the SWAC that directly or indirectly benefits them.”
SWAC Members:
https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/16459/2025-SWAC?bidId=
Joey Deese, Vice Chair Waste Connections, Inc. 02/12/2024 02/12/2026