County attorney asks board to consolidate assistant-attorney job descriptions to one grade

County Attorney Lindenman told the board during the Jan. 21 work session that he and personnel committee members propose consolidating the three assistant county attorney job descriptions (Assistant County Attorney 1, 2 and 3) into a single Assistant County Attorney position and assigning the position to the ACA-3 grade for classification. The change stems from a Gallagher classification review and an appeal by an Assistant County Attorney who was recommended to be placed at the ACA-3 grade.

Lindenman said the office’s assistants perform the same day-to-day work regardless of years of service, and the higher grade will allow the county to advertise openings at a market-competitive level for candidates fresh from law school as well as recognize experience for existing staff. He said HR will review the proposed consolidated job description and that, if it meets requirements, staff aim to bring the updated description to the board at a regular meeting (tentatively Feb. 4).

Commissioners discussed the operational flexibility such a consolidation would provide and noted a current vacancy that has been difficult to fill; they agreed that posting at a competitive wage could aid recruitment. HR confirmed the job description review is required and that Gallagher review is not required for this reclassification. The board did not take a final vote on the job description during the work session; staff expect to return with formal documentation for board action.