Grant PUD attorney released

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD attorney Ray Foianini learned a majority of the commission didn’t want him to reapply for his job during an executive session Tuesday.

Foianini, a 25-year contracted attorney for the district, declined to comment when contacted by the Columbia Basin Herald.

Grant PUD Commissioners Terry Brewer, Bob Bernd and Tom Flint agreed not to extend Foianini’s contract beyond its current term, which expires at the end of the month.

Flint was included in the meeting via a conference call, as he was in Washington, D.C. Tuesday.

Commissioners Randy Allred and Greg Hansen were against the idea.

“The whole thing is wrong, unethical and unprincipled,” Hansen said. “I’ve just lowered my opinion on three commissioners for doing this political hatchet job on a very fine attorney.”

Allred declined to comment.

Foianini’s contract was a commission discussion topic for months, as commissioners were working to bring the position in-house.

Foianini agreed with the changes.

But last week, commissioners approved a motion to post Foianini’s position as available to outside applicants without a salary range.

Foianini proposed a new annual salary of $239,000. Between January to mid December 2008, Foianini’s office was paid $502,102.

Brewer clarified on Tuesday evening the position hasn’t been advertised because there were some questions about the wording.

A PUD manager didn’t feel comfortable correcting the document without commission discussion.

“We’re telling him not to apply,” Brewer said of Foianini. “His services are no longer needed at the end of this month.”

Bernd said he appreciated Foianini’s 25 years of service.

It was hoped the commission would reach the position where this wouldn’t happen, Bernd explained.

But the relationship “disintegrated drastically” during the last three weeks, Bernd commented.

“You’re always sorry,” he said. “He had 25 years of service and a lot of history with the PUD. There’s various opinions on how good or not that service was, but be that as it is, I wish him well on whatever endeavor he chooses.”

Bernd said there may be an opportunity for Foianini to represent the district during a transition period.