Commissioner Survives First Day On The Job Harris Prepares To Tackle County Government He Once Criticized

With an empty writing pad and a telephone, Phil Harris is poised for action.

For years, the Republican has been a critic of county government. Tuesday, he worked his first day as a top manager in the organization he has decried for its bureaucracy, regulation and spending.

As one of three Spokane County commissioners, Harris now has responsibility for overseeing county operations, setting spending levels and passing legislation.

And for taking telephone calls.

Already, he has received complaints from people about sewers, fire protection, library fees, and property revaluations.

“If I don’t understand county government, how are these people?” Harris asks, looking at the telephone messages.

One of the first things Harris did when assuming duties Tuesday morning was order the installation of a second telephone so people can call without going through the office receptionists.

It’s part of a campaign promise to make government more accessible. Harris, too, promises to pay the bill on the phone out of his own funds so there are no questions about him using county property for his personal long-distance calls.

“It’s a lot easier to put in the defense mechanisms right away than correcting problems later on,” he says.

Harris hired an administrative assistant who never before had worked for the county. That ensures she would be loyal to taxpayers instead of other employees or department heads, he says.

In taking over the office of his predecessor Pat Mummey, Harris already has redecorated. A conference table, desk and chairs, bought for $2,200, replaces Mummey’s antique desk and brightly colored couch.

“I had fully prepared to pay for this stuff myself,” Harris says, “but they had already budgeted for it, they were expecting some changes in office furniture with a new commissioner.”

Harris spent most of his first morning in a meeting with fellow commissioners Steve Hasson and Skip Chilberg and the county administrator, Marshall Farnell.

Among the topics were committee assignments. Harris indicated a preference for serving the Waste-toEnergy Liaison Board, the panel that oversees the trash incinerator.

In another discussion, Harris said he was concerned that commissioners last month reappointed Donald Moore to the planning commission for a four-year term.

The seat must be filled by someone from Harris’ commissioner district and normally he would have veto power over nominations. Harris used to serve on the panel and has strong feelings about what type of person he would seek.

The appointment didn’t become effective until Jan. 1 and Harris says he should have been consulted.

In other discussions Tuesday, Harris made it clear he supports legislation that would repeal or curb government authority under the 1990 state Growth Management Act.

In addition, Harris supports bringing the Spokane Transit Authority under county government, a goal of Chilberg, who chairs both the county commission and the STA board in 1995.

He favored extending the contract of lobbyist Randy Scott through the 1995 legislative session, but reserved the right to analyze it and reopen it for other bids after that point. The contract already is structured so it can be terminated with a 30-day notice.

Also Tuesday, Harris sought his first closed-door session to discuss the consulting contract of Carol Darby, who was hired as a policy coordinator. Hasson opposed the contract, which was approved last July on a month-to-month basis.

The executive session, however, was postponed after a reporter told Harris the commissioners had agreed under the state’s public meetings laws to give 24 hours notice of any special meetings.