An ordinance that eliminates a requirement for Clark County to publicize contracts for human resources investigations has gone into effect after former county Councilor David Madore failed to collect 19,351 valid signatures needed to refer the measure to a public vote.
The ordinance, approved in November on a 3-2 vote, was crafted after County Manager Mark McCauley entered into contracts with outside investigators to look into human resources complaints. McCauley had been hesitant to post these documents online, and the ordinance eliminated the requirement that such contracts be posted to its website going forward.
The ordinance was opposed by then-councilors Tom Mielke and Madore, who had both been subjects of these investigations and frequently clashed with the rest of the council.
Madore responded by using a provision of the county’s home rule charter that allows an ordinance to be temporarily suspended if at least 100 Clark County voters sign a petition seeking a referendum on it.