PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners’ first meeting of 2019 was not business as usual.
With the start of a new year, changes came to the board.
In the first order of business, Commissioner David Sullivan, who had been chair in 2018, thanked the staff and fellow commissioners for the support he had been given and made a motion nominating Commissioner Kate Dean as the new chair, with newly elected District 3 Commissioner Greg Brotherton seconding. The motion passed unanimously.
Dean said she was “honored” to accept the nomination. Dean was elected to the District 1 seat held by three-term commissioner Phil Johnson and took office in 2017.
“Good thing I brought a gavel today,” she said as Sullivan and Dean switched seats and she welcomed Brotherton to the dais.
Dean acknowledged county network administrator Dave Winegar’s passing, noting it is “a big hit on the county family, with 16 years of service.”
Winegar also was Dean’s brother-in-law.
Commissioners discussed their choices for various advisory boards, committees, groups and commissions for 2019 and finalized appointments.
Dean will represent the board on the Climate Action, Finance, Fort Worden Advisory and Washington State Association of Counties Legislative Steering committees; the Olympic Consortium, Olympic Discovery Trail, Parks & Recreation Advisory, Public Infrastructure Fund and Ecosystem Coordination boards; and the Housing Trust (Homeward Bound Community Land Trust), Navy Military Municipal Research and Services Center, Puget Sound Partnership and WSAC Coastal Caucus Subcommittee.
Sullivan was appointed to the Jefferson County Clean Water District, Developmental Disability Advisory Board, Hadlock Sewer, Jefferson County Disability Board, Jeffcom 9-1-1 Administrative Board, Jefferson Transit Authority Finance Committee and chair, Mental Health Sales Tax Oversight Committee (the Hargrove Fund), North Olympic Development Council, Olympic Area Agency on Aging, Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization and the Joint Oversight Board of the Local Homeless Housing Task Force.
Brotherton was assigned to Chimacum Prevention Coalition, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC), Marine Resources Committee, Olympic Coast Sanctuary, Olympic Community Action Program (OlyCAP) Board, Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCCA), Port Ludlow Village Council, Salish Behavioral Health Organization, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Tourism Coordinating Council and the WSAC Timber Counties Subcommittee.
All commissioners will sit on the Budget Committee, the Elected Official/Department Director Quarterly Meeting, Health Board, Hood Canal Coordinating Council, Jefferson-Peninsula Regional Emergency Planning Commission (JPREP) and the Jefferson Transit Authority Board.
County Administrator Philip Morley was appointed as an alternate member on several boards, serving when commissioners are unable to do so.
Public Works Director Monte Reinders was named as an alternate to the Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
