Committee approves reclassification giving facilities director additional duties as deputy county administrator

The committee unanimously approved a reclassification that will give the county’s facilities and capital management director additional duties and the title of deputy county administrator for public works and capital projects.

County Administrator Leonard told the committee the move is administrative and operational: appointed department heads continue to report to the county administrator by statute, but the reclassified position would assume day‑to‑day coordination among capital‑intensive departments (parks, recreation and forestry, solid waste and highway) and hold the initial performance‑coaching meetings and draft performance appraisals for the administrator’s final review.

Leonard said wage ranges overlap between the vacant facilities director pay band and the deputy county administrator range, so he does not expect increased salary costs if the change is used in lieu of separate recruitment. Supervisor Lemmer asked how the county would measure the expected efficiencies; Leonard said specific KPIs had not been defined but that the county has observed operational benefits from closer alignment between facilities and capital budgeting, and he will develop performance measures.

Supervisor Poole asked whether the change needed full‑board approval; Leonard said it did not. The motion to approve the reclassification passed unanimously.

Leonard emphasized the board will hold the county administrator accountable for the deputies’ performance and the allocation of work in the county work plan. The committee requested follow‑up on specific performance metrics and reporting structure as the reclassification is implemented.