HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024/04/08 MASON COUNTY CITIZENS'COMMISSION ON SALARIES FORELECTED OFFICIALS
(Salary Commission)
Meeting Minutes
411 North 5ch Street,Shelton and Zoom
Monday,April 8,2024
Meeting was held hybrid—in-person and via Zoom. Members in attendance:Jim Morrell,Chair;
Leeland Wells,Vice-Chair; Mary Jo Cady—Secretary;Jann Goodpaster, Matt Mallery, Devin Ferner,
Brent Frahm, Richard Wilson, Roger Lewis, and Braden Sisk.
Also in attendance: Mark Neary, County Administrator, Mary Ransier, Human Resources Director
and McKenzie Smith, Clerk of the Board.
Chair Jim Morrell called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and roll call was taken.
Adoption of April 1, 2024 Minutes
Mary Jo/Jann moved and seconded to approve the April 1, 2024 Salary Commission minutes with
the correction of"the new comparable counties keep Cowlitz and Skagit and add Kittitas and Walla
Walla" Motion carried.
Adoption of By-Laws
Jim suggested waiting on amending the By-Laws further until the salaries are reviewed. The Salary
Commission may meet in June or July to confirm the list of salary considerations and determine
future decisions. Auditor Duenkel added that the Salary Commission should not worry about
coinciding with County salary decisions and that he would draw by lottery in the same manner—off
of voter registrations.
Lee/Brent moved and seconded to approve Section IV of the Salary Commission By-Laws as
written. Motion carried.
Request for Perspectives Memo to Mason County Elected Officials
Jim discussed the Request for Perspectives memo. Mary Jo emphasized looking at the positions
themselves, not the individuals, and suggested listing the nine comparable counties the Salary
Commission will be using. Walla Walla's unincorporated population is 18,000; Kittitas is 23,000;
and Mason County is 55,000. Mary Jo doesn't think there is enough information to include Walla
Walla and Kittitas Counties in the comparable counties. Jim added that the Salary Commission will
also look at the total budget, assessed values,full-time employees(FTEs), and more. A fourth
question should be added asking for an estimated number of hours worked in a typical week.
Auditor Duenkel added that questions should center around,when assigning a salary based on
position,what the position truly entails and asked the Salary Commission to consider what the
proper motivations are when running for office.
Auditor Duenkel left the meeting at 6:12 p.m.
Jim suggested the verbiage"in your experience how many hours does this position require in a
typical week"for question number four. Question number two could include"and your counter
parts in comparable counties"with the counties.
Mary Jo/Lee moved and seconded to mail out the Perspectives Memo to Mason County Elected
Officials. Motion carried. Devin opposed.
Review of Salary Considerations
Jim drafted a list of Salary Considerations.
Salary Review by Position
Jim shared a one-page summary of the nine comparable counties for Elected Official positions and
salaries. Mark added that the Salary Commission can make immediate salary adjustments. Lee
included that the Superior Court Judge salary will increase by 3%on July 1,2024. Mary pointed out
an error on the Grays Harbor Sheriff salary,the salary should be$177,130.
The Salary Commission took a 10-minute break.
Jim discussed first reviewing the salaries of the Assessor,Auditor, Clerk, Coroner, and Treasurer;
then the Commissioners; and finally,the Sheriff. Brent suggested implementing the new salary
over a two-year period in two equal amounts to lessen the financial backlash. The first increase
would be May 1,2024 and the second increase would be January 1,2025. Mary Jo recommended
implementing the increase all at once and asked if the Assessor,Auditor, Clerk, Coroner, County
Commissioners, and Treasurer salaries would remain equal. Matt shared concerns around Elected
Officials getting a high wage increase and other positions not and potential backlash. Jim also
suggested two equal increases to get salaries to the median amount of the nine comparable
counties. Mark included the first salary decision would be effective immediately, subsequent
decisions would be effective the next January 1. The Budget Manager could utilize information for
budget projections. Jim suggested putting together the current salaries as well as the amounts and
percentages if the salary is increased in one step and if increased in two steps.
Question/Answer/Discussion period for Salary Commission
No additional questions,answers, or discussions.
Public Comment—there was no public comment.
Adjourn—the meeting was adjourned at 7:29 p.m.
Minutes submitted by: McKenzie Smith
AMAOUNTY CITIZENS'COMMISSION ON SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
l, Chair