The Clark County council later this month will consider an ordinance clarifying the responsibilities of the county manager.
The home rule charter directs the county manager to “sign or cause to be signed on behalf of the county all deeds, contracts and instruments not otherwise reserved to others by this charter or state law.”
Acting County Manager Mark McCauley has called the direction confusing and unclear.On May 26 at its weekly 10 a.m. meeting, the council will hold a public hearing and consider an ordinance aimed at clarifying the line and determining who is responsible to sign which contracts.
“We’re trying to balance the interests of the legislative and budgetary authority with the executive and chief financial officer authority,” McCauley said.
The ordinance, which is not yet available to the public, will balance Clark County’s executive and legislative interests, McCauley said.
“We believe it makes sense to have guidelines for procurement,” McCauley said.
The council so far has passed no ordinances or policy changes to adopt the home rule charter, prompting criticism from charter advocates who say the council has not done enough to adequately respond to voters’ wishes.
Clark County District 2 council candidate Chuck Green, for example, told the council at a meeting last month that they were distracted by divisive issues rather than focusing on implementing the charter. Councilor David Madore later dismissed the claims. The county has taken steps toward charter implementation, and is sharing progress at www.clark.wa.gov/dgrid. Earlier this year, the county set policies regarding citizen advisory board appointments, dividing the task between the county manager’s office and county councilors.
“What we’re simply doing is implementing the charter,” McCauley said of the approaching ordinance.
Perhaps the greatest step toward charter implementation will come later this year, when Clark County votes two new councilors into office. Currently, the newly created District 2 — which encompasses northwest Clark County — and the at-large chair seat remain open.
