PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners gave a performance evaluation to their top employee Monday.

In public.

Jim Jones’ appraisal gave him an average score of 3.5 over seven performance categories.

The rating system ranged from 1 for “needs some improvement” to 2 for “meets standards” to 3 for “above standards” to 4 for “excellent.”

He was rated using the same form that he uses for subordinates.

Jones scored:

•SEnSProfessional qualities, including “calm and controlled behavior under pressure” and “enthusiasm in performing duties,” 3.5.

•SEnSCommunications, including good listening habits and concise written messages, 3.5.

•SEnSDecision making and problem solving, including “makes appropriate decisions even when guidelines are unavailable, 3.3.

•SEnSLeadership, including motivating department heads and elected officials and “refrains from ‘passing the buck,'” 3.7.

•SEnSManagement control, such as delegating duties and monitoring employees’ work, 3.0.

•SEnSPersonal supervision, in-¬­cluding evaluating subordinates and quashing false rumors, 3.5.

•SEnSFinancial management, including budgeting, 4.0.

“Jim has brought financial management to a new level, and it was good to begin with,” said Commissioner Mike Chapman.

As for Jones’ own opinion, “I’d be incredibly surprised in my own mind if any of these were not a 3 or a 4,” he said before the evaluation began.

Afterward, he admitted, “I was a little weirded out by it, but I appreciated the way Commissioner Chapman allowed me to make my comments.”

Chapman had proposed the evaluation be conducted at an open meeting, in this case the commissioners’ weekly work session.

Jones declined to name the other local governments, but said Monday’s open evaluation was dramatically different from their hirings and firings, which typically take place in closed meetings called executive sessions.

Despite some mild misgivings, “I certainly had no worry that anything that might be said couldn’t be seen by the public,” he said.

County commissioners today will set a public hearing for 10:30 a.m. Jan. 6 on an ordinance increasing Jones’s salary, moving his salary range from level 87 to level 94 and setting his step at 3.

The adjustments will raise his salary from about $105,000 to $125,262, increase his annual vacation accrual to 30 days and boost the county contribution to his retirement account from 3 to 5 percent.

Clallam County’s home rule charter requires a public hearing on any ordinance setting the administrator’s compensation.

The raise still would leave Jones’ salary below the mid-range.

“There have been some openings for which you haven’t applied,” Chapman told him, referring to the Port Angeles city manager’s position, which recently was filled.

Jones said he hadn’t wanted the job, although it would have paid him $25,000 a year more than the salary he’ll receive if commissioners approve his raise.

“It kind of would have been fun to be part of a change in the process that would bring trust and confidence back to city government,” Jones said, “but this is the place to be for me.”

“Jim’s in it for the public interest, and I appreciate that,” said Commissioner Steve Tharinger.

Jones answered, “I truly believe this position is the premier public governmental entity on the Peninsula.

“I think it’s the best job to have, the most interesting, the most diverse. It’s better than I had hoped it would be.”

He added he’s not likely to take another offer.

“I’ve got at least 10 more years to work, maybe longer,” he said.

“I made a really good decision on taking the chance and taking the opportunity to work here.

“Every day is an adventure. It truly is.”

Before he stepped into the job June 13, 2006, Jones was business and operations director for Port Angeles schools.

Prior to that, he was a vice president of First Federal and, before that, a Realtor after leaving the Air Force.

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Reporter Jim Casey can be reached at 360-417-3538 or at jim.casey@peninsuladailynews.com.