Clallam County committee debates charter amendment to create water-resources specialist and ad hoc committee

A Clallam County advisory committee spent its meeting reviewing and editing a proposed charter amendment to create a water-resources specialist position, an accompanying ad hoc hiring committee and related recommendations for job duties and qualifications.

The group discussed placing the position under the Department of Community Development (DCD), how to limit costs and politicization, and whether the county should prioritize consolidating existing water data rather than repeatedly hiring outside contractors. Paul (committee chair) led the session; Ron (committee member) described edits he had made to an earlier draft and walked participants through responses to comments from Bowen Kendrick (PUD), Craig Smith and Tony Corrado and Hansi Halls of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe.

Committee members said a central concern is ensuring the role provides technical water-resources data and analysis that can be used countywide rather than creating a new, politicized bureaucracy. Ron argued the position and its responsibilities belong under the DCD and said he restored language…