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HSAAC members press for direct role in presentations to county commissioners over CareOregon changes
Summary
Members of the Clatsop County Human Services Advisory Committee debated whether committee members or county staff should present committee recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners after recent CareOregon policy changes.
Members of the Clatsop County Human Services Advisory Committee (HSAAC) spent a substantial portion of the meeting debating how the committee should communicate recommendations and client concerns to the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners — and whether the committee should present directly when issues are time-sensitive.
Randy (committee chair) and Amber (Lotus Center for Neurodiversity) said the council has historically presented items to the board and that a recent change — county staff now presenting committee recommendations at work sessions — has left the committee feeling sidelined. “Having CBH speak to the board of commissioners on CareOregon is a conflict of interest because they stand to benefit from all this,” the chair said, expressing concern that the board would see only one perspective.
Monica, a county staff member, explained the county manager’s current process: staff present the administrative facts and changes so the board understands what it would be asked to advocate for. She described three options HSAAC could pursue after the staff presentation: (1) request that the board receive a separate HSAAC presentation; (2) submit a letter of support or opposition; or (3) use the board’s public-comment period. “Following the work session on the seventeenth, HSAAC is still welcome to do one of three things,” Monica said, summarizing the county’s options.
Committee members and the liaison commissioner suggested a paired or tripartite presentation model — HSAAC members plus county staff and the contracted provider — so commissioners hear committee observations and provider context together. Commissioner Thompson proposed that a joint presentation would honor volunteer work and elevate lived expertise while letting staff provide administrative context.
The committee asked for quicker pathways to inform the board on urgent changes. Lisa volunteered to draft a letter of support for the committee to review and the group agreed to place the item back on the October agenda; Monica said she would follow up with the county manager to explore whether a joint presentation could be scheduled sooner.
Ending: Lisa agreed to draft a letter and send it to committee members for review the following week; HSAAC will revisit the topic at its next meeting.
