Commissioners debate administrative-leave policy changes as counsel flags liability concerns

Klamath County commissioners on March 31 reviewed a draft administrative-leave policy that staff and counsel had revised after meetings with unions and insurer counsel (CIS). Commissioners pressed for clarity on liability concerns and for concrete review timeframes, while staff said counsel warned against overly prescriptive rules because cases vary greatly.

One commissioner said the policy’s intent was to create accountability and control taxpayer costs related to prolonged paid administrative leave. "At 30 days, you have to regardless of it, and that can fit just about any scenario, just update HR," the commissioner said, describing a benchmark-check process to prevent cases from becoming afterthoughts.

County legal or insurer counsel indicated they had provided redlines and cautioned that administrative-leave decisions are highly situational and that written policy could "hold your feet to the fire" in ways that create liability. Another commissioner said they want CIS to complete a thorough review before adopting a policy.

Why it matters: Administrative-leave policy affects employee rights, department oversight and county spending. The board signaled a desire to continue refining draft language and requested updated edits and counsel feedback in the coming weeks.

What’s next: Staff will circulate redlined revisions received from counsel, consider targeted benchmark check-ins (e.g., 30/60/90 days), and return the policy to the board for further review within a few weeks.