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Clallam County staff bring harassment concerns over prayer-advisory-board member; commissioners to sign letter
Summary
County staff reported social media posts by a member of a prayer advisory board that multiple employees described as harassing. County human resources and the chief civil attorney reviewed policies and retraining done last fall; commissioners agreed to sign a formal letter and to treat board members as county officials bound by county policies.
Clallam County officials said April 14 they will sign a formal letter addressing alleged harassment by a member of a county prayer advisory board after county staff reported social-media posts they described as targeting an employee.
Acting HR director told the Board of County Commissioners that three employees reported seeing a social-media post on April 2 that they considered harassing to a county employee. The acting HR director said county policy requires employees who observe or experience harassment to report it to an immediate supervisor or the HR director, who will review and recommend next steps. The director said the county’s administrative policies apply to volunteer members of boards and commissions.
The county attorney’s office and HR reviewed the matter against County Policy 101, which the county presenter said defines who is covered by county administrative policies and states that volunteers, board members and commission members are subject to those rules. The presenter said similar comments had arisen late last summer alleging that county staff “illegally” moved funds or changed fees; the chief civil attorney and HR conducted a training for board members at the Oct. 2 meeting to remind them of conduct expectations.
Commissioners discussed the balance between recruiting and retaining volunteer board members and the need to hold county leaders to a higher standard as county officials. One commissioner said the letter was an appropriate response after prior training and a pause that had given board members an opportunity to correct behavior. Another commissioner emphasized support for staff and the expectation that staff be treated professionally.
The commissioners indicated they will place the letter on the consent agenda for the regular meeting the next day and sign it. One commissioner disclosed a potential conflict because a spouse serves on the affected board and said they would recuse from any formal action on the issue.
Why it matters: County presenters said the office treats volunteer board and commission members as county leaders subject to administrative policies. The county framed the letter as reinforcing prior training and as necessary to protect staff from conduct the HR director described as damaging to employees’ ability to do their jobs.
What’s next: Commissioners plan to sign the letter at the regular meeting scheduled for April 15. The HR director said they are available to answer follow-up questions and will proceed according to county policy.
