PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners have delayed action on proposed changes to veterans assistance policy.
County Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis raised an array of concerns about the proposal in a public hearing Tuesday, including budgetary impacts and administrative oversight of the veterans relief fund.
Barkhuis asked commissioners to refer the policy changes to the county finance committee for a review and recommendation back to the board.
“I have significant concerns with the amendments as they’re written today, and I would urge you to take a step back and let the finance committee take a look at these issues that are relevant to budget impact,” Barkhuis said.
Commissioners voted 3-0 to send the amendments to the finance committee and prosecuting attorney’s office for further legal review.
The Barkhuis-chaired finance committee is scheduled to meet June 9.
“It’s important that we get this right,” Commissioner Mark Ozias said.
“As long as the veterans who are in need of assistance are able to receive it, who are using the system as it stands now, then I don’t see any reason why we need to adopt this new policy until we’re all sure that it’s going to accomplish what we need it to.”
The administration of the veterans assistance program has been moved from the auspices of the commissioners’ office to the Clallam County Veterans Center.
Under the new proposal, the veterans relief program would be run by a county employee/contractor rather than a designated veterans coordinator.
“These changes were essentially just to clean up the language in the old resolution that referred specifically to an employee in our office that we have had for many years as opposed to a contractor doing the administrative work with the [Clallam County] Veterans Association,” County Administrator Jim Jones said.
The proposed policy amendments were discussed at length in a March 7 work session.
“I think the changes in this policy muddle the chain of responsibility and the chain of accountability, and that should be looked at more closely,” Barkhuis said Tuesday.
The veterans relief fund is supported by an $80,000 annual tax levy and another $80,000 from general fund reserves, Barkhuis said.
“I have not seen any budget impact analysis to this proposal,” she said.
“The veterans fund has run in the red for the past several years.”
The proposed changes would result in a “significant increase” in the number of veterans who would qualify for assistance, Barkhuis said.
She cited a provision in the proposal that raises the maximum age of dependents from 18 to 24.
“That will be a significant impact on the budget right there,” Barkhuis said.
County code
Barkhuis said the proposal is inconsistent with county code. The code states that a veterans coordinator appointed by the county administrator is responsible for the administration of the relief fund.
“The policy should fit within the code,” Barkhuis said.
“The code trumps the policy.”
Commissioners have traditionally amended policy before changing the code by ordinance, Jones said.
“We can certainly do it differently,” he added.
Barkhuis also complained about a provision in the proposal that states unauthorized disclosure of public assistance documents represents a gross misdemeanor under state law.
She said the provision is inconsistent with state law and “may expose the county to significant liability.”
“I think that this is way beyond the scope of the authority that commissioners have,” Barkhuis said.
“County commissioners do not have the authority to enact gross misdemeanors. They can only enact misdemeanors for police and sanitary regulations.”
Barkhuis, a second-term treasurer and licensed attorney, raised other concerns about payment procedures in the proposal.
“I think deserving veterans require and deserve our assistance, but I’m concerned about the impact on the budget with this,” Barkhuis said of a provision on utility assistance.
Commissioner Bill Peach asked the prosecuting attorney’s office to review the legal issues that Barkhuis raised.
He added that he was “keenly interested” in having accountability in the relief fund.
“I want this to succeed, so I’m very interested in what the finance committee would say strictly on the accountability issues to make sure that we’ve got that right,” Peach said.
“I do like the fact that Selinda’s gone through this thing very carefully, and I want to capture some of the thoughts that she’s offering.
“If there’s an opportunity for improvement, I’d like to know about it,” Peach added.
Board Chairman Mike Chapman concurred with his fellow commissioners.
Before the hearing, Clallam County Veterans Association President Gary Velie said proposed language that highlights the eligibility of draftees was “totally superfluous.”
“There’s no possible way we could determine whether a person is a draftee or a volunteer,” Velie said.
“We don’t care. What’s important is that you’re a veteran and you served honorably. You have a need and we can help with a need.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
