Washington County taxpayers will cover nearly $276,000 in payments to the county's former top attorney, who left after just one year in the role.

The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on July 14 to approve a separation agreement with Alex Barnett, the former leader of the Office of County Counsel.

The deal includes $237,417 in salary equivalent to 11 months of base pay and deferred compensation, plus $38,480 for accrued vacation time, for a total payout of $275,897.

Barnett started the job in June 2025, according to The Oregonian. Before joining Washington County, he served as an attorney in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, working as a legislative counsel and congressional liaison.

He signed the separation agreement on Thursday, July 9.

The county declined to comment on what prompted the separation.

"Thank you very much Alex for your service, and we appreciate you taking the risk in joining Washington County," Board Chair Kathryn Harrington said at the July 14 special meeting, according to The Oregonian.

What the agreement shows

The settlement document, posted on the county's public meeting portal, states the agreement is not an admission of liability by either party. It includes a broad release of claims by Barnett against the county, covering Oregon employment statutes and federal anti-discrimination laws including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

Section 11 of the agreement references "investigation results" that were reported to Barnett, stating the county will confirm those documents as accurate if Barnett chooses to share them. The nature of any investigation is not described.

The payments come in two installments.

The first — $129,500 plus the vacation payout — is due after a seven-day revocation period. The second installment of $107,917 is due Monday, January 4, 2027. The settlement document states the payments will be funded through existing county appropriations.

Executive sessions preceded the vote

County records show the Board held executive sessions months before the July 14 vote. A May 5, 2026 work session included an executive session under ORS 192.660(2)(b), the Oregon statute covering dismissal or disciplining of a public officer. That item was pulled from the agenda on May 4, 2026.

Three days later, on May 8, 2026, the Board held a special meeting with a single action item labeled "County Counsel Personnel Action." The outcome of that vote is not available in the posted agenda.

Interim successor named

Deputy County Counsel Cortney Duke-Driessen has been appointed interim county counsel, effective July 14. Duke-Driessen previously held the interim role from August 2024 until Barnett's appointment last year.

County documents show she was already leading executive sessions on county business as early as July 7, 2026, a week before the formal appointment.