Commissioners question delegation's appointment of county treasurer as coordinator, cite $15,000 stipend

Chair (speaker 6) and several commissioners told the commission on March 6 that they are concerned about the legislative delegation's reported appointment of the county treasurer as delegation coordinator and a reported annual stipend of $15,000 for roughly 50 hours of work. "This is really a bad look," the chair said, urging the delegation chairman to withdraw the appointment and pick somebody else. Commissioners said the secretary of state's office advised that the treasurer, as a constitutional officer, should be independent and questioned whether the appointment followed county hiring policies (posting, interviews) and standard public notice.

One commissioner said he would "refuse to sign anything for Matt when it comes to pay" while the treasurer remained both a constitutional officer and the delegation's coordinator, citing what he called a conflict of interest. Other commissioners acknowledged that the delegation is a separate elected body with the right to hire whom it chooses but said the process here lacked transparency and "does not pass the smell test."

Members of the public who spoke during the meeting largely echoed those concerns, asking for the job to be posted and for clarity about reporting lines: if the coordinator is a delegation employee, commissioners noted, the authority and oversight differ from a county employee. The commission requested staff to seek a written opinion from the secretary of state's office and said it will ask the delegation to explain the selection process and terms.

No formal legal finding was presented at the meeting; commissioners voted to pursue clarification and to withhold certain paycheck signings until questions about independence and process are resolved.