Josephine County commissioners approve memorandum after Ron Smith apologizes for touching staffer's hair

Commissioner Ron Smith apologized publicly after describing a private conversation with a county secretary during which he said he touched her hair and later learned his action violated county policy. Following Smith's remarks, the Board of Commissioners voted to execute a revised memorandum.

Smith told the board he recognized the employee as someone who had chosen to take voluntary retirement and that she told him she was resigning after accepting an early-separation payment. Smith said the employee "bowed her head and began to cry," and that he swiped a strand of hair away with one finger while speaking with her. "My compassion will be constrained to words of encouragement only. Ron Smith, commissioner," he said, adding, "I apologize for my actions. I believe in being honest and transparent, I've learned my lesson." Smith described the door to his office as remaining open during the exchange.

The board considered a memorandum described in the meeting as a revised memorandum dated the day of the meeting. A motion was made and seconded to execute that memorandum; the transcript did not name the mover or seconder. During roll call, Commissioner Smith abstained. Commissioner Barnett voted yes. Commissioner Blunt voted yes. The motion carried 2 to 0 with one abstention.

The memorandum's contents were not read into the record in the provided transcript excerpt and are not specified. The record shows the commissioners returned to other business and adjourned at 03:52.

Votes at a glance: Motion to execute revised memorandum (dated today) — outcome: approved; vote tally: yes 2 (Commissioner Barnett, Commissioner Blunt), abstain 1 (Commissioner Ron Smith).