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Board approves extra executive-assistant post after county attorney warns paralegal loss would disrupt criminal discovery
Summary
Following the County Attorney's description of extreme understaffing and a warning that paralegal Amanda Warner’s departure would cripple criminal discovery, the board approved an additional executive-assistant position immediately and formed a subcommittee to review pay and classification issues.
County Attorney Kathy updated the board on recent turnover in the County Attorney's Office and identified a critical staffing risk: Amanda Warner, the office paralegal, manages the county’s electronic criminal discovery process and is actively interviewing for other jobs. Kathy warned that losing her would leave prosecutors without the specialized support needed to process body-camera footage, device extracts, and large volumes of electronic evidence.
Kathy described the office’s staffing ratio as far below comparable counties (two support staff for eight attorneys), and she urged the board to address both pay and additional support positions. Board members discussed internal equity, pay-grade options, and the time required to recruit and train replacements.
After extensive discussion the board voted to add an immediate executive-assistant position (grade six) to provide relief, and formed a subcommittee (Commissioners Benoit and Pinskey together with Administrator Monty and County Attorney Kathy) to meet with HR and the incumbent paralegal to determine classification, pay adjustments and longer-term solutions. The motion to add the position passed and was made effective immediately.
What happens next: The subcommittee will meet promptly to discuss options, attempt to retain the current paralegal through compensation or reclassification, and initiate recruitment for the new support role to enable cross-training and reduce single-person dependencies.
