Commissioner Sherman takes the helm as Washington County’s board chairman
Mike Jones/Observer-Reporter
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Nick Sherman took the helm Thursday for his first voting meeting as chairman of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, and said afterward he hopes to try new initiatives to spur public engagement in government.
Among those plans include holding rotating town halls around the county to let people know of various services available to them and scheduling several evening board meetings during the year to make it easier for the public to attend.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity the taxpayers gave me,” said Sherman, who was the top vote-getter in the Nov. 7 election for county commissioner.
The town hall schedule is still being ironed out, but they are expected to be in different geographic locations around the county and focus on letting residents know what resources are available to them, whether it be to discuss economic initiatives for businesses or aging services for retired people.
Another change will be to hold three board meetings in the evening hours – at 6:30 p.m. on April 18, July 18 and Nov. 21 – to allow people who work to attend. The county will also return to bi-monthly meetings, with some at 10 a.m. and others at 2 p.m. depending on the scheduling of the agenda-setting meeting.
Sherman said he wants the focal point of county government to be on human services and public safety.
“We have to make sure we provide those services and keep taxes low,” Sherman said.
Sherman was handed the chairman’s gavel during Tuesday’s reorganization meeting after former commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan retired at the conclusion of her seventh term in office. He’s now flanked by two commissioners with vastly different experience levels, with fellow Republican Electra Janis taking the oath Tuesday for her first term and Democrat Larry Maggi now serving in his sixth term. Janis will serve as vice chairman while Maggie is board secretary.
“I appreciate his leadership and I appreciate her partnership,” Sherman said.
During Thursday’s brief voting meeting, the commissioners approved a contract with new solicitor Gary Sweat that will pay him $165,000 per year. Prior to the meeting, the board also appointed Daryl Price to serve as chief of staff for the commissioners, and he will be paid a salary of $103,000, which is around the same wage the previous chief of staff, Mike Namie, was paid.
The next board of commissioners meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 18.