PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County commissioners have appointed Human Resources Director Rich Sill as the county’s interim county administrator when Jim Jones retires from his post Monday.
Sill, who is the director of human resources, risk manager and county claims administrator, said Tuesday he’s ready to take on the challenge of adding more responsibilities to his plate.
“I’m just going to have to take it a step at a time and make sure I prioritize the items that come through,” he said.
Commissioners Mark Ozias and Bill Peach approved a resolution Tuesday to appoint Sill to the position Oct. 16 until a new administrator has been identified. Commissioner Randy Johnson was not at the meeting.
In taking on the additional responsibilities, Sill also will receive a temporary 22 percent raise, bringing his monthly salary up from $8,906 to $10,852 per month.
Jones said during the Monday work session that there would actually be a savings to the county of about $11,000 per month because the county will no longer be paying him.
Jones said it might be necessary to name an interim Human Resources director because of some instances in county policy he said that allow employees to appeal the Human Resources director’s decisions to the county administrator.
“From a legal standpoint that’s probably something in the future,” Jones said. “It seems to me that’s a secondary decision to this one.”
The transition comes at the heels of the county withdrawing its offer to David Fraser, its top candidate for county administrator.
Commissioners decided during an executive session Sept. 20 to withdraw the offer after they said they discovered information that showed Fraser wasn’t the “right fit” for the county.
Jones announced the same day he would retire Oct. 15 after presenting the administrator’s recommended budget.
Ozias addressed a courthouse rumor during the Monday work session, saying it was the county commissioners that decided to withdraw the offer.
“I can say I’m personally excited to re-engage in our search,” Ozias said. “I believe the other commissioners are as well.”
Commissioners agreed to shift their focus toward hiring a chief financial officer who would replace Chief Auditor’s Accountant Stan Creasey, who will retire March 1.
“That should be interpreted as nothing more than commissioners trying to prioritize and focus on what’s most important first,” Ozias said.
Sill said there will be a national search to fill that position with the hope that Creasey’s replacement would start in December. The goal is for that person to work alongside Creasey during the year-end budgetary processes.
The county will use Strategic Government Resources’ list serve to help with the search, but the county will process the position.
Once that position is filled, the county then will shift focus and work on hiring a new administrator. It will execute a clause in its $27,000 contract with Strategic Government Resources that allows for a second search for free.
When asked whether he is interested in becoming the permanent county administrator, Sill said he did not apply for the position during the first search and that he’s filling in to help the county commissioners.
“I’ll do what they want me to do for them, but it was not on my radar,” Sill said. “As a matter of fact I was involved with coordinating the search firm.”
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
