Chair Katherine Harrington and the Washington County Board of Commissioners heard a staff recommendation to appoint Jennifer Hammelman to the Garbage and Recycling Advisory Committee (GRAC) during the board’s work session.

Mira Samantel, director of Health and Human Services, introduced Rusty Davis, the county’s new Solid Waste and Recycling manager, and said Kathy Folsom, senior policy coordinator for recycling, would present the GRAC applicant details. "We had 1 application," Folsom told the board, recommending the appointment of Jennifer Hammelman to finish the current midterm vacancy and then serve a full four-year term expiring in March 2030.

The recommendation followed staff outreach that included a media release, the county website and social media; Folsom said the applicant found the opportunity on the county’s Facebook page. Folsom described GRAC’s makeup as 10 members total, including one nonvoting member who is the "Salvation recycling division manager," one industry member and eight public members. The vacancy is midterm, created when the previous member resigned.

Commissioners indicated support during the discussion. Chair Katherine Harrington said, "You've got a thumbs up from all of us." Board members also noted a calendar correction from staff: the action will return to the board for formal consideration on Nov. 4 (not Nov. 2 as originally listed on the agenda packet).

Clarifying information provided in the meeting packet and discussion: Rusty Davis started as Solid Waste and Recycling manager on Aug. 18; Erin Stein served as interim manager for about 18 months during the recruitment; the GRAC vacancy is a midterm seat that the recommended appointee would finish before a full four-year term. Staff advised that the applicant is a Washington County resident, currently unemployed and with prior nonprofit experience.

No formal roll-call vote on the appointment was recorded in the work session transcript; staff indicated the matter would be returned for action on Nov. 4.

The board moved on to the next agenda item after expressing general support for the recommendation.