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01/24/2006: "Pro Tem Is On The Job"

(David Goldsmith Meets With County Council & Auditor)

The County Administrator is on the job. Well, at least the temporary one -the pro tem- is, while the search continues to find an administrator that is willing to take on San Juan County government on a full time basis.

Pro tem Goldsmith sat down with Council Chair Lichter, member Ranker (Councilman Myhr is on vacation), council staff, and Auditor Stephens on Monday morning to go over some of the details and protocols of his new job; and the ramification of the diminishing of the Council's responsibilities.

Councilman Ranker told Goldsmith he would like to have the County Administrator's primary staff person selected, and up to speed, prior to the hiring of the permanent Administrator. But Chairman Lichter suggested it would be best to let the current county staff and Goldsmith work out the details and timing of staffing. Another area of uncertainty for the new government now that the district lines have changed as a result of moving from three to six elected positions for the Council, is the ongoing issues of appointed boards. According to Ranker half of the appointed committees are now vacant. (Correction Ranker has informed us that half of the committees are not vacant (only 14 are) & that he was only stating the obvious that half of the Council is vacant -Our mistake)

County Auditor Stephens went over the signing of contracts with the Council, outlining the rules that will control the limits department heads will have on the contract amounts they may authorize, and who will have to approve the amounts. It was clear that the process of transition is ongoing, and is not expected to be complete until the full time Administrator is hired; in part because the Pro Tem Administrator simply does not have the same powers and responsibilities that the County Administrator will possess.