By Ed Sutton
Proposition #2 of the CRC proposals to amend the County Charter is difficult to analyze because valid arguments can be made to support the current Charter language or the amended version as well. The intent of the original Charter was to curtail involvement/”meddling” by Council members in the administrative functions of County government. Notably, in granting executive powers to the Council in Section 2.31(2)(b), the amended proposal allows the Council to “manage all administrative offices and functions.” OOPS! Section 2.42, however states that no individual Council member can act unilaterally with any County employee without being “duly approved by a majority of the County Council”.
I honestly can’t state that the Council is precluded from any administrative interaction with County employees. That was the CRC’s intent. The conflict in our discussions was directed more to the grey areas in which administrative departments such as the CDPD are involved in creating legislative ordinances for County compliance with State and Federal mandates. The CRC is proposing that there be more oversight of and direction to these departments on such matters.
Our government is a representative democracy and, as such, those representatives should be totally accountable to the voters and have ALL of the authority and responsibility to oversee the governance of San Juan County. The voters have not elected the current County Executive and that person should NOT be able to act independently of the Council’s direction. Sen. Kevin Ranker spoke recently to this issue. This is a very difficult matter to resolve (and very dry to discuss with you all).
The question, and choice for the voters, is whether specific direction on such issues as the CAO should originate with the Council, OR be developed from the administrative side of County government. The CRC recommends, and I support, that the COUNCIL direct (not implement) all development of ordinances and compliance with State and Federal mandates. Should the Council have all responsibility, authority and accountability as your elected representative to determine the nature of our governance as we move forward into a rapidly changing future? If you agree, then you should vote YES for Proposition #2.
Ed Sutton is a Charter Review Commission Member from Orcas Island.
