The Adams County Administration & HR Committee voted to forward a resolution to the full County Board recommending the addition of one full‑time and one part‑time staff position for the treasurer’s office, in addition to the elected treasurer. The motion passed after committee members expressed differing views on staffing levels and internal controls; one supervisor recorded a nay vote.

The matter drew public comment and sustained debate. Patty Youngblood, who identified herself as a resident and taxpayer, told the committee she opposed public participation taking place only after agenda items are set and warned about staffing changes. "I feel eliminating this position is a major setback for our county," she said. Barbara Barnes, another resident, urged the committee to provide the elected treasurer with sufficient staff and private office space so the treasurer can assess needs and meet constituents confidentially.

The elected treasurer (in office about 31 days, identified in the meeting as the county treasurer) described workload and control concerns that she said justify more staff. She told the committee that "the cash handling procedures and the, cash receding procedures in the treasurer's office takes 4 to 6 hours a day," plus balancing and daily reporting tasks, and that she spent an hour entering 79 tax payments to illustrate the volume of work. She said the office currently lacks a full‑time deputy treasurer and is using a property lister to cover roughly 25 percent of deputy duties while spending "probably about 75%" of that staff member's time on real property listing. The treasurer asked the committee to reinstate a full position or otherwise provide staff sufficient to meet statutory duties and maintain separation of duties.

County HR and finance staff said an HR panel and an internal review supported treating the office as a two‑person department. The HR manager said she "truly believe[s] that it is a 2 man office," and the county administrator said the staffing level had been "validated by an independent panel." The finance director and other committee members noted that some fiscal tasks previously handled in the treasurer's office had been moved to the finance department.

Committee discussion focused on three competing proposals: (1) reinstate three full‑time equivalents (which would have been in addition to the elected treasurer), (2) keep the office at two full‑time equivalents, or (3) approve one full‑time and one half‑time position. Supervisor Paler moved that the committee recommend to the County Board "one full time position and one half time position" (not counting the elected treasurer); Supervisor Rick Peace seconded the motion. During the vote the chair called for ayes and nays; one supervisor—identified in the record as Supervisor Capersi—voted no and the motion carried.

Supporters of added staff pointed to the treasurer's account of current daily workload, training needs for real property listing and tax settlements, and risk to internal controls if duties are concentrated. Opponents and HR representatives said an independent review and interviews with current staff supported maintaining a two‑person staffing model and warned that adding positions outside normal attrition creates ongoing budget commitments.

The committee forwarded the resolution to the full County Board for final action. At the committee meeting, the treasurer said she would welcome county members to spend a day in the office to observe operations; committee members and staff said the full board would consider the resolution at a future meeting.

Votes at a glance
• Motion to forward recommendation of 1 full‑time and 1 part‑time position for the treasurer’s office (in addition to the elected treasurer): Passed (motion by Supervisor Paler; second by Supervisor Rick Peace). One named no vote recorded: Supervisor Capersi. Outcome: forwarded to full County Board for final decision.

Sources and immediate context: remarks and questions occurred during the committee's public participation period and the agenda item titled "resolution to approve staffing allocation in treasurer's office department."