Minutes 05-26-2022 Budget Work Session

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38 Travis Myren said Todd McGee, Community Relations Director, could not be present for the meeting. Chair Price asked about the increase for the Community Outreach Specialist. Travis Myren said this is not a net increase to the county budget because it is moving money from the County Manager's office to Community Relations. Chair Price said there was discussion about a new position at a strategic communications meeting and wanting to make sure someone would be hired who would be able to do the work well. She asked what the salary plus benefits is for this proposed position. Travis Myren said his guess for salary is in the low $40,000 range if the total with benefits is $53,867. He said that a new position request is run through the classification and compensation staff who will look at other positions in county government and how it compares based on responsibility. He said they also do an external comparison to regional competitors. Chair Price asked if the salary for the position was starting in the low$40,OOOs. Travis Myren said yes. Commissioner Richards said it looks like Community Relations requested an Assistant Community Relations Director position and asked if that was included in the budget. Travis Myren said that position was not recommended in the budget. Commissioner Richards noted that the Assistant Director position would have been a higher classification than the recommended Community Outreach Specialist position. Travis Myren said yes. He also said that this is what is currently in the budget for this position. Chair Price asked if the scope of work was changed as Todd presented it in the budget request. Travis Myren said yes. Bonnie Hammersley said she felt the higher need based on operations was a Community Engagement Specialist. She said it is a gap in county government. She said the position will also coordinate with Human Rights and Relations and general government. She said she hopes this position can do more, but the size of the unit does not justify an assistant position based on the overall look of the organization. Chair Price said that makes sense as long as outreach positions will be maintained in other departments. Commissioner Richards if all of the Human Rights and Relations positions are filled. Travis Myren said there is one vacancy, and it is the outreach coordinator. Travis Myren said Sharron Hinton is serving as the interim director and there is an offer out for a Chief Equity Officer candidate. Commissioner Richards asked when the announcement will be made. Bonnie Hammersley and Travis Myren said within a week. Commissioner Richards asked if the community engagement specialist vacancy will remain after that. Travis Myren said yes. Chair Price clarified that it is two positions in separate departments. Travis Myren said yes that these are two different positions in different departments.