Washington County leaders endorse five Civil Service Commission nominees, stagger terms to avoid mass turnover

Amanda Morris, Washington County’s senior human resources manager and chief examiner to the Civil Service Commission, presented a slate of five recommended appointments to the county’s Civil Service Commission at the Board of Commissioners’ Feb. 24 work session.

Morris told commissioners that all five commission seats were vacant—four seats due to term expirations on Jan. 31, 2026, plus one ongoing vacancy—and that staff received nine applications and interviewed each candidate. Staff recommended appointing Peter Permentier, Jeanne Calamato, Jason Mitchell, John Pascal Jr. and Justin Laque.

Morris described the commission as “comprised of 5 volunteers who are registered voters within Washington County” and explained the commission function: it is the appeal board for Washington County employees and employment candidates and hears appeals that involve economic discipline outcomes such as termination, demotion or layoffs, as well as classification and recruitment appeals.

To avoid all five member terms expiring at once, staff proposed extending terms for the District 2 and District 4 seats to three years as a one‑time staggering measure. The board asked for clarification about who may appeal to the commission; Morris said represented employees may pursue a union grievance or an appeal to the commission, while positions explicitly exempted from civil‑service coverage—such as department heads, the district attorney and county counsel—do not have appeal rights.

Commissioners expressed general support for the recommendations and the staggered‑term approach; the chair said the appointments will return to the next business meeting for formal action.

The board took no final appointments or formal votes at the Feb. 24 work session; staff will bring the formal appointment items to the next business meeting.