Remarks by Ben West
103 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 3 of 5
- Play at 1:52:18
“So they're independent of the Board of County Commissioners. They're independent entities that provide insight and advise us as community members, you know, concerns or things they care about.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 1:52:29
“But they're totally independent of us, but we are paying for them to be insured.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 1:52:44
“I mean, I guess I'm just hung up on the piece that full independence, we pay the bill.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:03:11
“Well, it seems like a really good deal for two deputies. So is TriMet looking to enter this agreement indefinitely to pay for these costs? Is this for five years, two years, one year? How long do we get these officers at them footing the bill?”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:04:02
“Oregon City. Oregon City. So TriMet has these funds available to help basically local law enforcement afford these deputies or officers?”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:04:34
“So these deputies would become eligible to be full-time employees, members of the CCPOA, by all other purposes, they look like any other deputy, right? And this is just the funding source for that FTE?”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:04:58
“We've had issues with some heavy use of overtime. Could could the budget be blown beyond like what we're expecting here if this?”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:05:29
“Okay and Gary, can you refresh me really quick on what was, again, the administrative position? Oh, the privacy officer. The privacy officer for HIPAA compliance. So was that privacy officer dealing with all of our clinics, all of our public health, and all of our screening with vaccinate? I mean, it's a lot.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:05:53
“We don't have a designated FTE to do this already?”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:06:23
“And this will have to be ongoing. Ongoing, yes. And... Mary, you could probably attest to this. A violation is way more expensive, and the exposure politically is way more expensive. I can't believe we don't already have one, actually. I didn't know this. This is like, oh. I mean, we're talking about a HIPAA violation can be as easy as you left that on the printer, right? I mean, it could be... you, um, inadvertently tried to look at your spouse's records because they told you to look at them because they didn't have access to, but you work for the County. And so you looked for your wife to…”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:09:50
“There's no federal funding for the HIPAA person? No.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:11:42
“Can we just have a full-time contractor on contract? It's more expensive to have a contractor than an employee. It's a huge exposure. All right.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:12:39
“Do you need a direct number, though? Does he have to have one?”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:13:27
“All right. I move to approve the $305,564.55 in general funds for two deputies, an internal audit internship, and a county administrative privacy officer to be paid for from the county general fund in surplus contingency. I'll make that motion, and I'm sure we will be adjusting this potentially in the future.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:14:19
“I mean, I think... It may look different next year. We're going to have to, we've got to make a decision today. This is not necessarily what it looks like even in the near future. So I'm willing to make this motion as recommended. But I do share the same concerns as Commissioner Savas. I just don't know how we got to the, you know, with the specific motion, Commissioner. So I'll be supporting the motion that I made. And I do think that these are pretty important investments being made by the county.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:15:52
“I'd like to be sooner than later. I'd like to get going. I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon, so I want to be present. Back at 1.30? Sounds good. Okay. Back at 1.30.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:34:36
“Chair, I move to approve the $70,000 for Performance Clackamas Transit Team and the $30,000 for the Performance Clackamas Development Team for a total request of $100,000 to be paid from the County General Fund Surplus Contingency.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:36:50
“So as you guys know, I've been representing the board for the last, A year and a half now on this specific issue. There's been a number of different heavy lifts that have been done, including the legal work to get to where we are today, where we just voted to take timber receipts and not SRS funding for the first time in a long time. And so working through this, these legal efforts with AOC, this is specifically around ONC lands type stuff. natural resources and working with that group to get the movement that we've gotten not just with lobbying but also with the legal efforts and working…”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:37:55
“We need to clarify that, but I think we should pay this one.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:39:31
“I agree, Commissioner. Some of this also is, I mean, recently because of some of this effort, we've seen significant progress. when dealing with these timberland issues. Significant. And it's a different climate than it was previously. I remember last year's. I don't remember before that, so you may be right. I will admit that. But this is a pretty significant... Considering what we just are going to get in return after all these efforts, this is... less than a drop in the bucket and i think that supporting our rural counties and especially the 16 western counties some of that movement has…”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:41:30
“Unrelated, but it's just a shame. We're getting increased timber production to manage those forests moving forward because of some of this advocacy, and this has been long an issue for many years. You know, and I agree with you. I just... They have been good allies in trying to fix the issues that we're dealing with today. And these increased timber production and timber receipts is going to go a long ways to protect those federal lands in our local communities. So I think it's a small dues overall and expenses to pay for the importance of the issue and the movement that we've gotten.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:42:50
“Totally. I'm going to vote yes, of course. But, you know, what was the history is important. And then what's the expectation moving forward so that we're. BUDGETING FOR IT OR AWARE OF WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE NOW, I THINK IS APPROPRIATE, AND I'LL BE VOTING YES.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:43:15
“OR IS THIS JUST LEGAL WORK THAT GOES ON IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THIS WORK PERIOD?”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:43:41
“Some of that's political. Yeah, I think Multnomah County is political. I don't know Benton specifically, but I think that's also political. Josephine shocks me a little bit, considering the amount of ONC lands that they have. But I think Benton and Multnomah County are, that's a political statement. But And I it would be interesting to know if this is ongoing litigation or these are just expected some legal costs that are occurred because of You know the environmental side the environmental justice side that stops our timber production and our collection of receipts And what you know doesn't…”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:47:30
“Thank you. Chair, I move to appoint James Rhodes to the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council. Second.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026