SAN JUAN COUNTY

Former freeholder follows up
councilmembers testimony to salary commission

By Sharon Kivisto

A line has been added to this story since first posted it is in bold.

posted 05/02/2006
The ten-member salary commission, as part of its work to determine the county council salaries, invited the three councilmembers to describe their workload. Each councilmember appeared separately before the commission for about 10 minutes each answering questions. Afterward the commission listened to a former freeholder - who had invited himself - contradict the testimony of the councilmembers.

San Juan Island resident and former freeholder Charlie Bodenstad brought a sample job description with him which he created by pulling out sections from the charter. He said, "We handed you a very powerful role, you are in postion of either helping successfully launch the essence of what was intended with the charter or to a great degree emasculating it even. It is pivotal the concept of what was developed be instituted as we go forward."

The three county councilmembers - Alan Lichter, Bob Myhr, and Kevin Ranker - spoke about the boards and committees they serve on as board members or liaisons. The time they spend on policy and ordinances. The way legislative issues overlap with administrative issues for example when explaining road projects to citizens.

They also spoke about the amount of time they spend interacting with constituents. Lichter gave as one example, a call he had received the previous Sunday night from a frightened woman. She told him, she had been told no deputy was available when she called dispatch to complain about rifle shots. She called Lichter because he was the Orcas Island councilmember.

When Bodenstad spoke to the salary commission after the councilmembers had left, he said." Part of what you were hearing earlier is the culture of intervention. You heard Lichter talk about getting involved in a crisis over the weekend." According to Bodenstad, those kind of questions would fall to the county administrator not to the county councilmembers.

Lichter has asked Sheriff Cumming to come before the council on May 2 to talk about staffing on Orcas Island and his budget.

EDITOR's NOTE: When asked about the staffing issue the sheriff said, because of vacations, a vacancy on Orcas (which has been filled), training earlier that day (that cold water drill), there wasn't a deputy on active duty that night. There was a deputy on gear-ready duty. In other words, one of the Orcas deputies was on-call and would have been ready in less than five minutes if necessary.

One of the things Ranker spoke about was meeting in Olympia with state legislators. State Senator Harriet Spanel and Rep. Jeff Morris have both told the council how important they thought it was for the county councilmembers to interact with the state legislature.

When the salary commissioners asked Bodenstad about this, he laughed. "During the freeholder discussions someone said 'What do they accomplish?'."he said. "It's an illusion we have power. There are lobbyists, professionals. They are very effective at it."

The salary commission's next meeting is at 11:35 a.m. Wednesday, May 3.

Public invited to meet county administrator applicants May 14

posted 04/28/2006
Islanders will be able to meet the finalists for the San Juan County Administrator position before the councilmembers make their final decision. A social event will be held from from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 14 at the China Pearl Restaurant, 51 Spring Street, Friday Harbor. Because of the time crunch the council is facing, the event ended up being scheduled on Mother's Day.

The professional search firm of Waldron & Company has been working with the Council to solicit qualified candidates for this position. Last week, the Council, working with Waldron's Human Resources representatives, and narrowed the original 59 applicants down to twelve. "We received applications from dozens of well qualified individuals from all over the nation. It was difficult to get down to the twelve," said Councilman Bob Myhr.

Waldron & Company is doing reference checks and further interviews on the 12 candidates. They will return to San Juan Island on May 9 and meet with the council in executive session. At that time the selection will be cut to three to five candidates. Those candidates will be invited to the county for interviews.

On Monday, May 15, the Council will hold rotating interviews with each of the finalists in executive session. Additionally, a panel of elected officials, appointed department heads, and the administrator pro-tem will individually meet with each candidate throughout the day. At the close of the day's interviews, with input from the two panels and the Administrator Pro-Tem, the Council will review and evaluate the final candidates' qualifications.

On Tuesday, May 16, the Council hopes to conclude discussions and select a final candidate for County Administrator in open public session. "This is one of the most important decisions we will make as a Council, I am pleased with the thoughtful and involved process so far," said Councilman Ranker.

Salary Commission set

posted 04/05/2006
A southern California attorney and the wife of a former freeholder didn't make the cut when the San Juan County Council approved salary commission members Tuesday, April 4, 2006. The four people chosen are: Michael Soltman, San Juan Island School District superintendent, Anthony Vivenzio, a San Juan Island attorney, Randy Cornelius, OPALCO CEO and James Lett of Lopez Island.

While all the candidates presented by interim County Administrator David Goldsmith met the criteria - including being residents and registered voters - the council had the discretion to disapprove of any candidate for any reason.

Don Drodz of Orcas Island was rejected by the council because the majority of his law practice is in Orange County, California. Lichter said, "I am uncomfortable with someone whose practice is primarily in another state. Pam Nichols, a retired personnel manager, was also rejected. No reason was expressed during the meeting.

After the two names were not accepted, Goldsmith returned with two more later that morning - Cornelius and Vivenzio. Both names were accepted enthusiastically. Councilmember Bob Myhr expressed support for Cornelius but abstained from voting since he is on the OPALCO Board of Directors. Vivenzio was approved after it was made clear to the councilmembers he had already agreed to resign as a pro tem judge. Salary commission members cannot work for the county.

The purpose of the salary commission is to review and set the salaries for all of the county elected officials including the six councilmembers, the prosecutor, the county clerk, treasurer, assessor, auditor, and sheriff.

There are 10 salary commissioners. Six are drawn by lot by the auditor. The other four are appointed by the county administrator with approval of the county council.

Goldsmith expects the commission to be finished with its work by the end of May. The deadline for candidates to file is the last week of July.

SALARY COMMISSION

DISTRICT 1

Wilma Munsey

DISTRICT 2

John Marx

DISTRICT 3

Mimi Westphalen

DISTRICT 4

Thomas Mitchell Jones

DISTRICT 5

Lorinda Roland

DISTRICT 6

Sandy Wyllie-Echeverria

Business background

James Lett

Personnell background

Randy Cornelius

Organized Labor background

Michael Soltman

Legal background

Anthony Vivenzio

Salary Commission partially filled

posted 3/28/2006
Six members of the county's 10-person salary commission have been named - Wilma Munsey (Dist. 1) John Marx (Dist. 2), Mimi Westphalen (Dist. 3), Thomas Mitchell Jones (Dist. 4), Lorinda Roland (Dist. 5) and Sandy Wyllie-Echeverria (Dist. 6). They were selected at random by Auditor Si Stephens. Four other names were submitted by interim County Administrator Pro Tem David Goldsmith to the county Council. The councilmembers will discuss them next week. Councilmember Kevin Ranker said he wants to consider some alternatives to the four names submitted.

According to the RCWs and the charter, Goldsmith had to present someone with a background in organized labor. Michael Soltman, San Juan Island School District Superintendent, was named for this position. In the business category: James Lett of Lopez Island. For personnel management: Pamela Nichols of San Juan Island. For legal profession: Don Drodz of Orcas Island.

Salary commission members sought

posted 2/15/2006
A citizen salary commission will determine the salaries of elected county officials including the councilmembers, treasurer, sheriff, assessor, auditor, clerk and prosecutor. Six of the members of the commission will be drawn randomly from the voter list. The other four will be chosen by the county Administrator. The four must have had experience in the field of personnel management. Of these four members, one shall have a background in business, one in professional personnel management, one in the legal profession, and one in organized labor.

People wishing to be considered can forward their name to the county Adminstrator David Goldsmith at davidg@co.san-juan.wa.us.

At the county Council's Feb. 14 meeting, Tom Munsey urged the council to proceed quickly to appoint the commission. He noted some people who do not have to take the salary into consideration are already campaigning. Others are waiting to see if they will be able to afford to become a public servant. The sooner the salaries are set, the better, he said.

Headhunter firm hired for county administrator job search

posted 1/11/2006
San Juan County Councilmembers voted to spend up to $35,000 to hire human resources consulting experts to find candidates for the county administrator position. County Human Resources Manager Becky Rusnak said Waldron HR guarantees the person hired will spend two years on the job. If the administrator leaves or is let go for just cause, the firm will conduct another search for free.

Former Jefferson county manager
offered interim county job

posted 1/11/2006
David Goldsmith of Port Townsend was offered the job of Administrator Pro Tempore for San Juan County. The councilmembers interviewed two candidates Monday and made their choice Tuesday morning.

Goldsmith will be paid $8,000 per month plus airfare and lodging. He will start work Jan. 23, 2006.

Two candidates for interim administrator interviewed

posted 1/10/2006
The three county Councilmembers will choose between two candidates - Dick Thompson and David Goldsmith - for administrator pro tem. Under the new county charter the decision is supposed to be made Jan. 10, 2006. Both candidates have a long history of working in government positions.

County Councilmember Kevin Ranker talks to Dick Thompson after the interview.

Former freeholders Susan and Steven Robins talk to David Goldsmith.

Goldsmith retired in 2005 after 30 years with Jefferson county including several years as county administrator. His experiences in that county mirror many of the issues San Juan County is facing. Growth management issues - like SJC, Jefferson county opted into the Growth Management Act. The creation of an administrator position took place during Goldsmith's three decades with the county.

Thompson hasn't had any experience with county government but has extensive experience at the city and state level. He served as Booth Gardner's chief of staff and was budget director during Gary Locke's first term. He currently does consulting work with the Seattle Seahawks and is chairing the committee reviewing the feasibiilty of a Nascar racetrack in Washington.

Asked about his availability, he said he would be in New Zealand and Australia between Feb. 13 and March 13. The interim position is expected to last four months.

Thompson said he felt with good communications, overcoming the distance is workable. During the time he served as interim University of Washington Athletic Director after Barbara Hedges left, he went on a 59-day trip to Alaska. With the use of satellite phones he was able to do his work as athletic director.

Goldsmith is available except for the next two weeks. He sees the interim position "as a bridge. So when the new person comes in, the mechanics of how the county operates internally are already set in place. When the person gets here they can hit the ground running."

Neither candidate is interested in anything but the interim position. The council will meet in executive session Tuesday afternoon to discuss the candidates.

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