During a work session held by the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on Tuesday, July 1, County Attorney Cathleen Giovannini spoke to the board about posting an assistant county attorney position.
“It’s my understanding that this is something the county was contemplating doing even prior to my coming,” she said.
Prior to the hiring of Giovannini and following the departure of former county attorney Todd Weaver, the county took down the assistant county attorney job posting, which had been vacant for multiple months before Weaver resigned.
“I envision this position as being more than half for [the Department of Human Services, DHS] and all the different child support,” Giovannini stated during the July 1 work session.
She explained that the hope is that the position would be able to assist with other projects, as well, but highlighted that at least 50 percent of work would be related to DHS cases, “because I do think that’s the greatest need.”
DHS Director Heidi Martinez explained that her department is currently using an attorney based out of Denver for DHS cases.
Giovannini added that using the attorney based out of Denver has been “a little over budget and that is a concern.”
She explained that the cost is currently variable depending on the case load and travel required for each month, and that having someone in-house would keep those costs “much more predictable.”
Martinez noted that the county has been paying up to $600 every other month for the attorney’s travel fees.
She also explained that there are times when it is more beneficial for clients to be able to communicate in person with an attorney.
“I’’m glad to see this moving forward in a real way,” Commissioner Warren Brown commented.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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