Curry County commissioners authorize director to negotiate one-year contract with Pacific Office Automation

Curry County commissioners voted to authorize Director Fitzgerald to begin negotiating a one-year contract with Pacific Office Automation after meeting in executive session to discuss an IT matter. The motion to authorize negotiation was made after the board returned from a closed session; the public record does not include contract terms or a dollar amount.

"I would like to make a motion to approve for Director Fitzgerald to start working on negotiating a 1 year contract per our executive session discussion with Pacific Office Automation," the chair said when putting the motion on the floor. Director Fitzgerald had earlier said an update on the IT situation "needs to be [held] in executive session." The transcript records the motion was seconded but does not clearly identify which speaker seconded it.

The chair called for the question and the motion passed with affirmative votes recorded for Commissioner Kocher, Commissioner Hollinger and a third affirmative vote recorded as "I as well." The transcript lists three affirmative votes (yes 3, no 0); no abstentions or no votes were recorded. The transcript does not provide the contract value, specific negotiation parameters, or a timeline for final approval.

The meeting minutes show the board recessed into executive session under ORS 192.660(2)(h) for the IT update, meaning detailed discussion occurred in closed session and therefore was not included in the public transcript. After the vote the chair announced the meeting was adjourned at 11:59; the transcript contains a conflicting date reference for adjournment (it earlier records the meeting date as July 23 but the adjournment line refers to "January 23"), which appears to be a transcription inconsistency and is noted here rather than being corrected without further evidence.

Next steps recorded in the public transcript are limited to the authorization to begin negotiation; the transcript does not indicate any follow-up schedule, reporting requirements, or when a final contract would return to the commissioners for approval.