PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has hired a consultant to review the performance and contract of County Administrator Jim Jones.
The three commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a personal services agreement with Kenbrio Inc. to conduct the evaluation.
The Portland, Ore.-based consultant will receive $3,800 plus reimbursement for mileage, lodging and meals.
Board Chairman Mike Chapman said he would sign the agreement after the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office approves the final language.
Hired in 2006
Jones was hired as the county’s top executive in 2006. He is scheduled to earn $150,206 this year.
As part of the review, Kenbrio will evaluate Jones’ 10-year contract. The contract was last updated in 2009.
The consultant will conduct private interviews and facilitate a closed-door executive session to share his observations and identified corporate views with commissioners and Jones, according to the scope of work.
Final report: April’s end
A final report will be issued by April 30.
In the first of two public comment periods Tuesday, Francisco de la Cruz of Blyn encouraged the board to focus the review on the future rather than the past.
“Get a bigger bang for our buck to at least look forward and say, ‘Here’s what we want to do in the next nine months that’s left of this year,’ with some hard numbers or some measurable goals,” he said.
Chapman agreed.
“When I meet with individual [elected officials], I plan on talking about issues going forward,” Chapman told de la Cruz.
“I think you raise a good point.”
De la Cruz said it was “unconscionable” that Jones’ job performance had not been reviewed since 2009.
Performance reviews
Although Jones’ contract has not been amended in seven years, Jones had a performance review two years ago when Chapman last served as chairman.
“It was the contract that had not been amended for a number of years,” Chapman said.
“That’s what I’ve raised a number of times. I have never had support, until this year, from the full board to re-look at the contract. But [job performance] was reviewed just two years ago, last time I was the chair.”
Chapman noted that Commissioner Mark Ozias has been on the job for less than three months, making it difficult for him to “look back.”
Commissioner Bill Peach, who took office in January 2015, asked de la Cruz what proportion of the review should look to the future.
“I suggested 80 [percent] forward, 20 [percent] backward,” de la Cruz said.
Jones has said he welcomes the review.
New carpet
In other news from Tuesday’s meeting, a bid opening for new carpet in the Superior Court Clerk’s Office was tabled pending a legal review of procedural errors with the bids.
One bid had been inadvertently unsealed by a new deputy clerk of the board.
A second bid was submitted at 10:10 a.m. Tuesday. Bids were due at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The carpet replacement project is time-sensitive because it was scheduled around judges’ vacations, county Parks, Fair and Facilities Director Joel Winborn told commissioners.
“Minor informalities can be waived, but I would not consider receiving a bid after the deadline to be a minor informality,” said Kristina Nelson-Gross, Clallam County civil deputy prosecuting attorney.
Nelson-Gross advised the board to submit the matter to her office for a proper review.
“I’m not inclined to advise on the fly without knowing everything that’s going on,” she said.
Ozias asked Winborn how the delayed bid opening would impact the project.
“We’ll make it work,” Winborn said.
“It will be fine.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
