Merger Bill - LEOFF 2 Board Changes Vote -- Senate Version Introduced
- By Jerry Taylor
- Published 01/31/2012
- HB 2350
We were notified late Friday, January 27, 2012 at 4:40 pm that the LEOFF 2 Retirement Board scheduled a special meeting for 9:00 am Monday, January 31, 2012.
Item #1 on the agenda was listed as: Review and Discussion of HB 2350. There was also an announcement of a possible executive session to discuss with legal counsel regarding a possible charge of a legal violation of the Open Meeting Law.
At the regular meeting on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 the board voted not endorse HB 2350, the LEOFF 1/LEOFF 2 Meger Bill. At the special meeting a motion was passed to reconsider the previous board action not to endorse HB 2350. After some discussion a motion was passed by a vote of 6 to 4 to overturn the board's previous action not to endorse HB 2350 and to endorse HB 2350. There was no public hearing and no opportunity for interested parties to comment as the board discussed the reconsideration. It was quite obvious that the Chair had secured two votes to overturn the previous vote and didn't want to cloud the issue.
The two employer representatives and the LEOFF 1 member voted not to endorse. The majority of the LEOFF 2 members, except for one, including Representative Kevin Van De Wege who is also a LEOFF 2 member voted to overturn the board's previous action and endorse HB 2350. The Chair, Kelly Fox, although there was not a tie, voted to endorse the bill.
Monday evening at about 5 PM a new bill, SB6563, was introduced. It is the same bill as HB2350 but on the Senate side. The sponsors are Senators Brown, Harper, Hobbs, Murray, Pridemore, and Delvin. It had a first reading on January 31 and was referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
How they voted.
Voting to endorse: HB2350
Voting no to endorse:
Item #1 on the agenda was listed as: Review and Discussion of HB 2350. There was also an announcement of a possible executive session to discuss with legal counsel regarding a possible charge of a legal violation of the Open Meeting Law.
At the regular meeting on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 the board voted not endorse HB 2350, the LEOFF 1/LEOFF 2 Meger Bill. At the special meeting a motion was passed to reconsider the previous board action not to endorse HB 2350. After some discussion a motion was passed by a vote of 6 to 4 to overturn the board's previous action not to endorse HB 2350 and to endorse HB 2350. There was no public hearing and no opportunity for interested parties to comment as the board discussed the reconsideration. It was quite obvious that the Chair had secured two votes to overturn the previous vote and didn't want to cloud the issue.
The two employer representatives and the LEOFF 1 member voted not to endorse. The majority of the LEOFF 2 members, except for one, including Representative Kevin Van De Wege who is also a LEOFF 2 member voted to overturn the board's previous action and endorse HB 2350. The Chair, Kelly Fox, although there was not a tie, voted to endorse the bill.
Monday evening at about 5 PM a new bill, SB6563, was introduced. It is the same bill as HB2350 but on the Senate side. The sponsors are Senators Brown, Harper, Hobbs, Murray, Pridemore, and Delvin. It had a first reading on January 31 and was referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
How they voted.
Voting to endorse: HB2350
- Kelly Fox-Pres. WSCFF L-2 Olympia Fire Capt.
- Jack Simington-FOP L-2 Kennewick Police
- Mark Johnston-Active Vanc. Fire L-2
- Pat Hepler-Active Sno. Co. Fire Dist.#1 L-2
- Kevin Van de Wege Pt. Angelas Fire L-2 State Rep.
- Jeff Holy ret. Spokane PD L-2 (asked for reconsideration. Changed his vote and was the swing vote to support the bill
Voting no to endorse:
- Paul Golnik-Fire Co.. Kitsap Co. L-1 retired
- Glenn Olson-Wa. Counties Deputy Exec. Clark Co.
- David Cline-Wa. Cities City Manager Tukwila
- Ryan Martin-Vanc. Fire L-2
Not present
Sen. Honeyford
