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ADMINISTRATION - Chief Administrator Gabriel Hydrick
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION - Review previous Board direction regarding the appointment of County Counsel
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Financial Impact:
General Fund costs are anticipated to increase if the Board chooses to change the structure of the County Counsel Office.
Background Information:
The County Counsel position was vacated in July 2021. In August 2021, the Board entered into an agreement with Prentice Long to provide County Counsel services through contract (Misc. Agree. 2021-187, as amended by Mics. Agree. 2021-333, as amended by Mics. Agree 2022-224, as amended by Mics. Agree. 2022-370.) There were three amendments to this agreement approved by the Board to extend terms, services, and compensation included in the original agreement.
On 3/14/2023 the Board requested an item be brought forward to discuss this County Counsel position and to provide direction to staff. On 4/18/2023 the agenda included an item (#31) to review the history and the Board provided direction to fly the County Counsel position for recruitment. On 5/2/2024, subsequently the Board rescinded the direction to fly the position and directed staff to move forward with a performance evaluation of County Counsel. Following completion of the evaluation, staff was directed to bring forward a new agreement.
On 6/27/2023 an item was brought forward (#55) to consider a new agreement with Prentice Long for these services to be provided by contract. Following discussion, the Board voted 4/1 to approve the agreement with Prentice Long for a four-year term and appointed Margaret Long to fulfill the position of County Counsel.
On 6/4/2024 the Board requested an item to be brought forward to review and discuss the termination clause in the Prentice Long agreement and possible direction to staff regarding the recruitment of the County Counsel position. On 11/5/2024 this matter was brought forward again during Future Agenda Items for discussion.