After a lengthy discussion, the 28E agreement between the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington County Board of Supervisors was approved for the Emergency Management Coordinator position. 

Supervisor Jack Seward Jr. shared his concern about the agreement with the rest of the Supervisors, “I guess the biggest issue I have with it (28E) today is that I think if we proceed with it and approve it, we would be improper because the job description and the advertisement that went out for the job didn’t say anything about being the Sheriff’s department or part of the Sheriffs department or a division of the Sheriff or anything. The 28E specifies that the person will be a deputy sheriff. In addition to what I said last week, which was I don’t believe that they should mix the job, I think it should be either a deputy sheriff or emergency management. Not to choose one or the other at the time.” 

A discussion between the Supervisors, Sheriff, and County Attorney about the language of the 28E and candidates that applied for the position put to rest some of the issues that Seward brought up. 

The agreement states that the County and Emergency Management Commission will partner with the Sheriff’s Office to have a Deputy Sheriff fill the role of Emergency Management Coordinator. With this agreement, the Sheriff will appoint a Deputy Sheriff to be the Emergency Management Coordinator, and have oversight of the day to day operations of the position. It also states that there shall be no reduction or alteration of benefits or employment conditions as a result of the Deputy Sheriff serving in the additional role of Emergency Management Coordinator. The Sheriff’s Office may reassign or replace the Deputy serving as Coordinator at any time, consistent with standard procedures and operational needs. 

The agreement was passed 4 to 1 with Seward voting no. The Sheriff’s Office will be appointing the Coordinator this week with the signing of the agreement.