Board approves procurement waiver to contract outside counsel for discrimination and harassment policy

The board discussed contracting with outside counsel (John Shanna King) to develop a county discrimination and harassment policy and requested a waiver from normal procurement rules to award the work directly. The presenter said the policy would reflect applicable law and that training would follow; board members contrasted the policy drafting with existing training courses.

Scott moved to grant the procurement waiver and Sam seconded; the board discussed a likely budget adjustment of about $20,000 to cover investigation and policy work and the presenter said they hoped to keep the request within that amount. The motion passed under the board's recorded aye/vote practice.