Charter Review Commission forwards town-hall amendment to auditor for 2026 ballot

The Clallam County Charter Review Commission voted to send a proposed charter amendment requiring annual town-hall meetings by each county commissioner to the county auditor for placement on the 2026 ballot.

The amendment, presented by Commissioner Sarmiento and the town-hall committee, would require each member of the Board of County Commissioners to "conduct at least one town hall meeting in their commissioner district each year" and would require notice of those meetings at least 30 days in advance. The text also specifies that such meetings should occur outside normal working hours.

Commissioner Sarmiento moved to forward the draft resolution and amendment (step 4 of the charter amendment process) to the auditor; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Hodgson. After brief discussion clarifying that regular in-session question-and-answer segments during working hours would not satisfy the outside-hours requirement, the commission took a roll-call vote.

Recorded voting in the meeting transcript shows Commissioner Fish — yes; Mister Bennett — no; Commissioner Tozer — yes; Commissioner Fane — yes; Mister Cameron — yes; Mister Morris — yes; Mister Pickett — abstain; Mister Richards — yes; Mister Fleck — yes; Mister Hodgson — yes; Commissioner Holy — yes; Mister Waldy — yes; Mister Sarmiento — yes. The chair reported the final tally as 11 yes, 2 no, 1 absent and 1 abstain. The commission directed the clerk to submit the approved resolution and amendment to the prosecuting attorney for the ballot title and explanatory statement and to the auditor for placement on the 2026 ballot.

The commission chair said the clerk would route the resolution for signatures electronically to members who participated remotely. Commissioners noted that the prosecuting attorney must prepare the ballot title and explanatory statement and that the auditor will supervise ballot placement and timeline compliance for the 2026 election.