Liberty County adopts appointments-review policy and annual performance reviews for appointed officials

The Liberty County Commissioners Court voted on Sept. 30 to adopt a new appointments-review policy that would establish a five-member committee to evaluate applicants for appointed offices and to conduct annual performance reviews of appointed officials.

Speaker 4 described the proposed committee makeup as five members: the Liberty County Sheriff (or designee), the Liberty County Attorney (or designee), the county auditor, the county treasurer and the county purchasing agent. The policy would combine initial application/interview procedures and ongoing performance review into a single document and allow the committee to recommend future changes and position-specific qualifications.

Speaker 4 said the policy requires posting job openings on the Liberty County website and, where applicable, on state regulatory or professional association sites. The policy also contemplates a complaint-review function and noted committee meetings would be subject to the Open Meetings Act, with the statute's personnel exception allowing closed session deliberations about particular individuals when appropriate.

Some commissioners raised a concern that the draft had not been posted with the meeting notice and suggested allowing additional review and comment. Others said they preferred prompt action; Greg moved to approve the policy and allow the court time to recommend changes by the first regular October meeting, David seconded and the motion passed by voice vote.

Separately, the court approved an item to establish annual performance reviews of appointed officials for departments the court listed, including fire marshal, emergency management, permitting/engineering, AgriLife, information technology, public health, maintenance and veterans services. The court noted there is no current economic development position to review.