PORT ANGELES — In a 2-1 vote, Clallam County commissioners authorized the elected director of community development to waive fees for certain nonprofit groups that apply for building permits.
Commissioners Mike Chapman and Jim McEntire voted Tuesday in favor of an ordinance that allows the head planner to waive fees for charitable 501(c)(3) organizations that “provide relief solely to the poor, distressed or underprivileged.”
Commissioner Mike Doherty voted against it, saying he wanted to keep the fee-waiver authority with the Board of County Commissioners.
Community Development Director Sheila Roark Miller proposed the change after she was unable to waive a fee for Homes for Our Troops, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that worked with the North Peninsula Building Association to build a home this year for a Marine who lost both legs while serving in Afghanistan.
“I wanted to be able to offer them a fee waiver,” Roark Miller said.
The ordinance added a paragraph to the consolidated fee schedule in the Clallam County Code.
Plan review
Roark Miller, the only elected DCD director in the nation, said it was her intention to waive the fee only for plan review, not inspection fees.
“I would estimate that we’d only run across this maybe once every seven to 10 years, something that may qualify for that,” she added.
The county Permit Advisory Board vetted the ordinance and supported the amendment.
Before casting a no vote, Doherty said it would be easy for the commissioners to waive a fee after a brief report from an applicant.
“I’d prefer the board retain that role as a check-and-balance in government,” Doherty said.
“At least we’ve got a bit of a say on the policy and everything.”
Chapman said he “probably would concur” with Doherty if the DCD director was an unelected employee.
Responsible to voters
“I think I’m more comfortable with that authority staying with an individual who’s directly responsible to voters,” Chapman said.
McEntire said he was comfortable with the new language and thanked Roark Miller for bringing the idea to the board.
“I think it’s very commendable,” McEntire said.
Meanwhile, commissioners unanimously approved a second ordinance that brought the county building and construction code up-to-date with international standards.
No members of the public attended hearings on the two ordinances.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
