Commissioners consider employment contract for county health officer

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Jefferson County commissioners approvde an employment contract with Dr. Allison Berry at their meeting last week.

Berry has served as public health officer for the county since her appointment by commissioners July 16, taking over for Dr. Thomas Locke, who was appointed as deputy health officer.

Berry has been Clallam County’s public health officer since 2018, and has served since July as health officer for both Jefferson and Clallam counties.

An employment agreement for Berry was presented to the board of commissioners at their Sept. 7 meeting.

The contract is retroactive Aug. 1, and the agreement makes Berry the health officer for Jefferson County as a part-time, 12-hour per week employee.

County officials noted that Berry’s work for the health department during a time of a global pandemic will require her to work more than 12 hours per week.

Officials said Berry has been working an average of 20 hours per week, and the new contract allows her to work more than 12 hours during times of an emergency.

The eight-page agreement does not have an end date, and will automatically renew on Aug. 1 every year, beginning in 2022.

If the board of commissioners decided to end her employment with the county, she will be given one month advance notice.

Berry must also give a minimum one-month notice if she resigns from the position.

The job contract sets a starting base salary of $63,291 per year, or $5,274 per month or $84.45 per hour for a 12-hour week.

The agreement also states Berry will receive an employee performance evaluation once every 12 months.

Berry, 36, is a Port Angeles resident. She has been a physician at the Jamestown Family Health Clinic since August 2016.

She earned her medical degree at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and was awarded a master’s degree in public health from the university. Berry also holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and music from Lawrence University.