04/05/2006: "Four Members of Salary Commission Approved"

It was not easy, but the County Council has finally approved four members for the salary commission that, under the County Charter, they are allowed only to approve or reject -the other six they have no say in, as they are selected by the Auditor from the voters rolls.

The problem for the Council was the separation of powers barrier that under the Charter required them to review and approve or reject the names that were appointed by the County Administrator. The Council could approve or reject, but not appoint. Interim County Manager David Goldsmith used the criteria of the RCW and the Charter as a basis for submitting four names to the Council for their approval, but two of them were rejected, one without explanation, and one because he worked out of state. This required Goldsmith to go to his "B-team" for two additional names that would be acceptable to the Council. The Council found the new names to be acceptable.

The four new members of the Salary Commission are SJI attorney Anthony Vivenzio, and the SJI School District Superintendent Michael Soltman, and from Lopez James Lett, and Randy Cornelius of OPALCO was also selected.