Given the current declaration of emergency issued by the Board of Health in Res. 20-06 and Health Officer’s Order 20-056, and due to the rapidly changing status of the COVID-19 outbreak in Snohomish County, the Health District is required to be nimble and make rapid decisions in this quickly evolving situation.

In the Board’s revised division of responsibilities (adopted by Res. 19-20), it states: “The Board of Health is responsible for setting Health District budget and policy but must balance oversight against managing operations. The Health District’s leadership is responsible for implementing Board decisions but must have the authority to ensure effective and efficient operations.” The Executive Committee’s role in the Health District’s body of work related to four key areas is outlined in the revised division of responsibilities document. Those four areas are: organization, expenditures, revenues, and labor relations.

Additionally, the Executive Committee’s purpose and scope of authority states: “The Executive Committee is authorized by the full Board of Health to exercise limited powers of the full Board of Health and to act on behalf of the Board on urgent matters when the Board is not in session or when convening the full Board is not possible or practical, consistent with Resolution 98-08.”

“The committee can also exercise other powers and authorities delegated by the Board and make recommendations to the full Board as applicable.”

Given the current state of emergency, the Administrative Officer has requested that the Board consider suspending directives in  the division of responsibilities in the following areas and delegate decision-making authority (as opposed to making recommendations only)  to the Executive Committee :

1. Temporary modifications to organizational structure

2. Communications

3. Non-budgeted expenditures up to $100,000

4. Pursuit of grant and/or emergency funding

5. Other critical time-sensitive policy decisions related to the COVID-19 emergency.

The matters delegated above will be in addition to those matters already delegated to the Executive Committee pursuant to Res. 19-20, which include:

1. Emergency medical supplies exceeding $50,000

2. Emergency capital purchases exceeding $50,000

3. Contracting for services greater than $50,000 and greater than $100,000 total contract.

All matters above that are acted upon by the Executive Committee will be reported to the Board at such time as the full Board can be convened.

RCW 70.05.060 – Powers and duties of local board of health

MOVE TO suspend the division of responsibilities adopted in Res. 19-20 in limited areas set forth in this staff report and temporarily delegate decision-making authority to the Executive Committee until termination of the declarations of emergency by the Board of Health and Health Officer. In order to effectuate this motion in the most expedient manner possible, the Executive Committee, through its chair, may, if necessary, suspend notice requirements for its meetings as authorized in the case of emergency under RCW 42.30.070.