County ousts water district volunteer after harassment complaints

Published 1:30 am Thursday, January 12, 2017

EVERETT — A long time volunteer advocate for the Stillaguamish River basin found himself in hot water after repeated complaints from women in Snohomish County government accusing him of making inappropriate comments.

The County Council voted 4-0 Wednesday to remove Max Albert from his appointed position with the Stillaguamish River Clean Water District Advisory Board.

Before the vote, Albert requested, but was denied, a formal hearing to respond to the harassment allegations. Given the chance to present evidence, he said, “a very different picture of this whole situation will emerge.”

Public Works director Steve Thomsen and surface water management director Will Hall sent a letter to the council recommending Albert’s removal for alleged misfeasance.

They also noted his “outstanding contributions” to the advisory board and to the community.

Their letter detailed a series of unwanted comments to women employees about their looks. After they warned Albert about the county’s anti-harassment policies, another employee made a complaint last fall. He had been provided with workplace training about the same issues earlier in the year.

“Snohomish County will do all we can to protect our staff while also protecting the taxpayers from potential lawsuits,” Thomsen said in a prepared statement. “We cannot allow those who represent the county, whether volunteer or paid, to abuse the trust they have been given. While not an action we wanted to take, it is an action we must take.”

The advisory board makes recommendations to elected leaders, public works officials and other agencies about funding water-quality and stormwater programs. County employees provide support staffing. The volunteer appointees are nominated by the county executive and confirmed by the council. Albert was in his third four-year term.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.