ELCO board approves part-time infrastructure communications coordinator, authorizes posting and hiring

The ELCO Communications District board approved a part-time infrastructure and communications coordinator job description and authorized the chairman to post the position and potentially hire a candidate prior to July 1.

The job is described as a coordinator role and “basically our liaison with other technical folks, our contractors,” the chairman said during discussion. The position is remote-eligible anywhere in the continental United States, will be expected to work largely via online platforms and phone, and may require periodic on-site visits; the board discussed budgeting for roughly quarterly travel during construction season.

The board added a single catchall bullet — “other duties as assigned” — to the job requirements before approving the description. The board also authorized the chairman to advertise the opening in local paper(s), on the county website and on the district’s social media, and to proceed with interviews and selection so the hire could be ready by July 1.

Marissa, a district staff member who presented payroll and hiring details, said the district intends to hire the person directly as a district employee while the role is part time. Marissa said the position “will not work enough hours to qualify for PERS” as a part-time hire; if the position later exceeds the hours threshold and becomes full time, the board discussed turning hiring and HR administration over to County HR so the new hire could be onboarded as a PERS-eligible county employee.

The board discussed pay and benefits in general terms. The draft budget figures reviewed during the meeting included an example around $34,000 for base pay in a highest-level scenario tied to about 1,040 hours of work, plus employer payroll charges (Marissa referenced Medicare and Social Security of about 2.75%) and a stipend to reimburse bandwidth or minor equipment costs. The draft assumes the employee supplies basic equipment; out-of-pocket vendor or printing expenses would be billed as reimbursable items.

Board members said the infrastructure committee (chairman and Kent) will serve as the primary liaisons to the coordinator and manage day-to-day oversight expectations so the hire remains part time. The board moved and approved the job description and the authorization to post and hire. No numerical vote tally was recorded in the meeting transcript; the chair stated the motion carried.

The board intends to post the vacancy for a period (the chairman suggested 14 days), review resumes, and interview qualified candidates; the meeting noted at least two potential candidates had already expressed interest. The board plans to invite applicants to a non-action presentation at the next meeting if candidates are available.