HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024/03/26 MASON COUNTY CITIZENS' COMMISSION ON SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS (Salary Commission)
Meeting Minutes
411 North 5th Street,Shelton and Zoom
Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
Meeting was held hybrid—in-person and via Zoom. Members in attendance:Jann Goodpaster, Matt Mallery,Jim
Morrell, Mary Jo Cady, Devin Ferner, Brent Frahm, Richard Wilson, Leeland Wells, Roger Lewis, and Braden Sisk.
Also in attendance: Cmmr. Randy Neatherlin; Auditor Steve Duenkel; Mark Neary, County Administrator; Mary
Ransier, Human Resources Director; Diane Zoren, Central Services Manager; and Dedrick Allen, MasonWebTV.
Chair Neatherlin opened the meeting at 5:30 p.m. and along with Auditor Steve Duenkel welcomed the Salary
Commission members. Chair Neatherlin and Auditor Duenkel left the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
The members made introductions.
Adoption of By-Laws
Amendments were suggested to the draft by-laws and a revised document will be brought back at the next
meeting.
Diane reminded the members that the Salary Commission is subject to the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and
the Public Records Act (PRA) and to please not email each other or meet outside of the established Salary
Commission public meetings to discuss Salary Commission business. Information can be emailed to Diane, and
she will distribute to all members. When responding to an email, respond to only Diane, do not"reply all".
Selection of Officers—Chair,Vice Chair and Secretary
Matt/Jann moved and seconded to appoint Jim Morrell as Chair and Leeland Wells as Vice-Chair. Motion carried.
Jann/Devin moved and seconded to appoint Mary Jo Cady as Secretary. Motion carried.
Meeting Schedule
Brent Frahm brought up creating a mission statement; Matt pointed out there is a County Resolution and By-Laws
in place that basically provide that information. It was agreed that creating a mission statement is not necessary.
The May 1 deadline was discussed and meeting this deadline allows those running for office to know the salary of
the position and the filing fee which is due mid-May. Any salary increases would go into effect immediately,
pursuant to the Resolution. May 6-10, 2024 is filing week.
The meeting schedule was discussed. It was agreed the Commission needs to meet frequently to meet the May 1,
2024 deadline.
Jim suggested establishing a meeting schedule and meetings could be cancelled if they are not necessary. It was
agreed to set the meetings on April 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
The Commission took a 10-minute break.
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Salary Setting Information from Human Resources
Mary Ransier, HR Director, presented salary setting information. The County Commissioners have established a
compensation philosophy based on comparable counties—seven counties (Clallam, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island,
Jefferson, Lewis,and Skagit). There is no limit on the number of comparable counties that can be used but Mary
has found using seven counties creates a good benchmark. They are all non-chartered counties. A request was
made for those counties that have an Administrator and for organization charts. Discussion of finding counties
that are apples to apples. Mary can ask for job descriptions but that is not typical for elected officials because the
positions are defined in the RCW's.
Mary explained how the County sets compensation based on the labor market.The County targets the 50% mark
in the labor market with a 10%cushion.
Mary provided current and past salaries for Mason County and comparable county elected officials.
Discussion of Sheriff and Undersheriff salaries. These two positions are currently tied together by resolution that
established the Sheriff salary at 5%above that of the Undersheriff. These positions receive the annual 2.5%step
increases and any across-the-board increases. The Salary Commission can set the Sheriff's salary.
The other elected officials (Commissioners, Auditor, Assessor, Treasurer, Clerk, Coroner) are set by resolution that
has an automatic 1%annual increase.
Discussion of benefits and considering the total compensation package. It was agreed the Salary Commission will
establish the base salaries of the elected officials.
The Auditor returned briefly to the meeting to clarify that should the Salary Commission complete its work by
May 1, or before the filing period, that the new salaries would be used to determine the appropriate filing fee.
Question/Answer/Discussion period for Salary Commission
Information request for the next meeting:
Which counties have Administrators; did Commissioners jobs change when the Administrator was hired;
Organizational Charts; brief demographics for comparable counties—total FTE's, budgets, population.
Discussion of the possibility of changing comparable counties. Mary noted there is discussion of removing Skagit
and Clallam and adding Kittitas and Walla Walla.
Braden asked how Mason County compares nationally; Mary stated that is not typically studied. It was agreed the
Salary Commission will use comparable data within Washington state.
Next agenda—define the base salary; set comparable counties; review information from HR.
The Commission asked for information to explain why the Sheriff's salary is set at 5%above the Undersheriff.
The Salary Commission's decision could have an impact on the budget and the Commissioners may have to make
an adjustment.
Requested salary information and percentage of budget.
Positions will be reviewed position by position and then a final decision will be made.
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Public Comment—there was no public comment
Adjourn -the meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Minutes submitted by: Diane Zoren
MASON COUNTY CITIZENS' COMMISSION ON SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
Jim Morrell, Chair
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