2009-10 Adopted Budget - City of Hoquiam

CITY OF HOQUIAM2009-2010 BIENNIAL BUDGET DEVELOPMENTDepartment Budget NarrativeDepartment: Legal Department Director: JohnsonDepartment Number: 04 Fund: 001Program Description: The Legal Department was created in 1991. Prior to that time, the City contracted for legal services with alocal law firm on a part-time basis. The Department currently consists of a full-time City Attorney and a full-time AdministrativeSecretary. The Secretary also serves the Mayor and the City Administrator. Although the Hoquiam Municipal Code allows for thehiring of an Assistant City Attorney, that position has not been filled nor funded by the City. The current City Attorney is SteveJohnson. He has held this position since 1994. He is a graduate of Hoquiam High School (1972) and earned a Bachelor of ArtsDegree from Central Washington State College in 1976, with a major in Law and Justice, and a minor in Psychology. He earnedhis Juris Doctor (Law) Degree from Lewis and Clark Law School, in Portland Oregon, in 1979, and was admitted to the WashingtonState Bar Association that same year. He has practiced law in Grays Harbor County his entire career. The current AdministrativeSecretary for the Legal Department is Robin Smith. Robin is a graduate of Aberdeen High School (1963). She obtained anAssociate of Arts Degree from Grays Harbor Community College in 1971, and has lived and worked in Grays Harbor County mostof her life. She has held her current position since 1995. The City Attorney represents the City in all criminal cases brought by theCity in Hoquiam Municipal Court. These cases include gross misdemeanors, misdemeanors, civil infractions, and traffic infractions.The City Attorney also represents the City in civil cases brought either for or against the City. In certain situations, the City’s liabilityinsurance pool (WCIA) retains a private attorney to represent the City in lawsuits brought against the City. In those situations, theCity Attorney is responsible for monitoring the case, and working with the private attorney and other City employees involved in thelitigation. There are currently two lawsuits pending against the City which fall within that category. In addition, there are severalother cases in which a claim for damages has been made, but a lawsuit has not been filed. Also represents the City’s interests withrespect to workmen’s compensation and unemployment compensation claims filed against the City. Responsible for draftingordinances and resolutions for the City Council and Mayor, and for drafting and/or approving the form of all contracts andinsurance policies for the City. Acts as the legal adviser to the Mayor, City Council and the officers of the City including Departmentheads and also advises the Civil Service Commission, the Building Code Council, and other citizen commissions, and attendshearings before those boards. Because the City does not have a Personnel Director or Human Resources Director as mostmunicipalities do, the City Attorney is heavily involved in personnel issues, including hiring procedures, grievances, and disciplinaryactions. This function has been taking up an increasing amount of time, but with the recent addition of the City Administrator, thiswill undoubtedly change. Serves as risk manager for the City. This requires attendance at “Full Board Meetings” of theWashington Cities Insurance Authority (at least one meeting per year is required for each City). It also requires acting as liaisonbetween the City and W.C.I.A., which includes notifications, processing of claims, investigation of claims, and coordination ofrequired training and education of employees. Currently sits as a member of the Loss Control Committee of W.C.I.A., which meets6 times a year to discuss and promulgate risk management policies and procedures for the entire W.C.I.A. membership.Responsible for overseeing the City’s Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Random Drug Testing Program, through the AWC DrugTesting Consortium. Currently, 18 City employees participate in this program, which is required by federal law. Finally, acts as theLegislative Contact Person for purposes of communication between the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) and the City ofHoquiam during legislative sessions. When issues affecting cities are discussed in the legislature, AWC alerts the City Attorneyand requests an immediate response.The Administrative Secretary is responsible for answering the telephone for the Legal/Administration Department. She isresponsible for all filing, typing and scheduling of appointments and meetings for the Legal Department. She drafts subpoenas andother legal pleadings. She updates municipal code books. She makes all routine purchases of supplies, processing of invoices,and is responsible for bookkeeping paperwork for the Legal Department. In addition, the Administrative Secretary is responsiblefor filing, typing and scheduling appointments for the Mayor.Mission: The mission of the Legal Department of the City of Hoquiam is to provide ethical, high quality and efficient legal servicesto the Mayor, City Council and all Department of the City, and to enhance the quality of life in the City of Hoquiam by aggressivelyand fairly prosecuting violations of the law while protecting and preserving the rights of its citizens.137