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Charter review commission creates committee to study county ethics rules and possible ballot options
Summary
The commission voted to form a six-member committee to analyze ethics rules, enforcement mechanisms and possible charter or ordinance changes after repeated public comments and commissioner concerns about enforcement gaps.
The Clallam County Charter Review Commission voted May 6 to form a standing committee to study county ethics, enforcement and possible remedies including charter amendments or recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.
Commissioner Fleck opened the discussion, saying ethics questions have recurred at many meetings and they warrant a dedicated review. "An ethics discussion keeps occurring at every meeting that we need to do an ethics committee," he said, listing state statutes that frame the conversation. Commissioner Tozer and others noted county codes previously removed civil penalties and urged a committee to consider restoring enforcement mechanisms.
The commission approved a motion to create the committee and named commissioners Benedict, Waldy, Noble, Tozier, Fleck and Cameron as members; the group will draft recommended language and consider whether to propose a charter amendment or a recommendation to the commissioners.
Commission members and staff discussed enforcement options now available, including personnel policies for county employees, the role of HR and legal review for alleged violations by employees or appointed staff, and the more complicated remedies when elected officials are accused. County Administrator (presented in the meeting) summarized existing channels: complaints about department employees route to the department director and HR; complaints about the administrator go to the Board of County Commissioners; complaints about elected officials are usually matters for the voters or for legal action, including recall, civil suits or other statutory remedies.
Public commenters and a number of commissioners urged stronger rules and expressed frustration that previous county ordinances had been amended to remove civil penalties; Commissioner Richards said a charter amendment might be the correct path to restore enforcement tools.
The motion to form the committee passed without recorded opposition. The committee will report back with draft options, and commissioners suggested consulting statutes such as RCW 42.23 (code of ethics for municipal officers) as part of its work.
