Amador County Grand Jury
2016-2017
Findings & Recommendations
16 findings
F1:
Tree mortality will continue because bark beetles are here to stay.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
Create a bid justification process and form to justify a decision to use a competitive contract process. (Findings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
F2:
Amador County was awarded a $5 million grant to remove trees that could potentially damage important county infrastructure and utilities.
F3:
In November 2016, the Amador Resource Conservation District (ARCD) was awarded two grants valued at $400,000 from the CAL FIRE Tree Mortality Program.
F4:
Grants to provide financial assistance to seniors and low income households are available to down trees killed by drought and bark beetles.
F5:
Other outlets for the abatement of dead trees are being investigated by organizations, such as Ampine Corporation, Buena Vista Biomass Power, and lumber mills.
F6:
Amador County Board of Supervisors is consulting with other counties to see what they are doing to solve the issue.
F7:
PG&E is working with contractors to down trees.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8:
Revise Protest Procedure to include discoveries after release of a Request for Proposal, and after bid awards. (Finding 7)
F8:
A list of registered foresters, tree service companies, and timber operators is available through the Amador County Tree Mortality Task Force.
F9:
Licensed timber operators from out of state are downing the infected trees and hauling them back to their place of business to process.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
Continue to meet the budgetary requests of the Election Department as they have historically been reasonable. (Finding 9) 26 Election Process Review
F10:
Caltrans has a public information line which can be utilized if a tree poses a hazard to a state highway, or personal property that is near a state highway.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3:
Investigate the possibility of providing additional help to the Election Department during the vote tabulation process following elections. (Finding 10)
R7:
Require criteria for suitability of proposed facilities in all Health, Behavioral Health, and Social Services Request for Proposals. (Finding 10)
F11:
There are some grants available for private property owners; grants are funded through fire protection fees collected each year.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6:
Revise Purchasing Policy to, as a minimum, notify all chief executives of agencies when going out to bid on a program in which the agency could have a legitimate stake in. Include in policy that this period of time shall be not less than 60 days before release of a Request for Proposal. (Findings 11, 12, 13)
F12:
In summary, the Amador County Board of Supervisors has been doing a thorough job in keeping the community informed and up to date as to resources and finances available for dead tree abatement. Their establishment of the Amador County Tree Mortality Task Force has been key to assisting the community with the burden of dealing with the crisis, especially on private property.
F13:
The HHS Director engaged in purposeful communication with Nexus Principals (while still employed at ATCAA) to keep ATCAA senior manager uninformed.
F14:
The HHS Director has publicly shown bias by praising Nexus to other agencies and counties, recommending Nexus for additional grants.
F15:
County employees with a personal relationship were allowed to engage in the RFP process and evaluation.
F16:
County does not have an adequate method in which to quantify, measure, and establish performance for behavioral health and social services contracts.
Additional Recommendations
8
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The 2016-2017 Amador County Grand Jury recommends that the Amador County Board of Supervisors continue their efforts to alleviate the impact of tree mortality and excess tree debris. Bark Beetle Infestation in Amador County
R4:
Revise County and Purchasing Conflict of Interest Policies to include periodic review and admonishment of key employees who can influence financial commitments to outside entities. (Findings 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 13, 14, 15,)
R9:
Create and apply Conflict of Interest curriculum for periodic training for employees at all levels. Increase frequency of training for employees who have authority to influence greater impact. (Findings 3, 8, 14, 15,) 51 Health and Human Services Contracts
R10:
Remove all parties with a conflict of interest, or any personal relationship to proposers, from evaluation processes before it begins. Include Abort or Mitigation protocols should discovery of conflicted influence be detected. Include detection process. (Findings 3, 8, 14, 15,)
R11:
Set completion date for the aforementioned Recommendations for December 31, 2017.
R12:
Announce to all known possible competitors of Behavioral Health and Social Services directly, and publicly in early January of 2018, the intention to go to bid on all programs in which ATCAA and Nexus have ever mutually served on for the last five years.
R13:
Go to RFP for those programs in April of 2018, for fiscal year 2018/2019.
R14:
County to seek assistance from Department of Health Care Services to develop a System Improvement for contract and grant procedures.
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Additional Recommendations
4
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The respondent agrees with the finding.
R2:
The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding. The response shall specify the portion of the finding that is disputed and shall include an explanation of the reasons for the disagreement. Reporting Action in Response to Recommendations Recommendations by the Grand Jury require action. The responding person or entity must report action and all recommendations in one of four ways:
R3:
The recommendation required further analysis. The law requires a detailed explanation of the analysis or study and the timeframe not to exceed six months. In this response, the analysis or study must be submitted to the officer, director, or governing body of the agency being investigated.
R4:
The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted, or is not reasonable, with an explanation. i Final Report Response Format The following standard format is to be used when responding to the Grand Jury’s report and is to be used by all agencies when responding: Responding Agency ____________________________________________ Response by __(Governing Body, Department Head)___________________
Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
The Amador County Jail, built in 1984 with a 20-year lifespan, is obsolete and overcrowded. It has an aging infrastructure, a lack of programming space, and an inability to properly classify and segregate inmates. An expansion and renovation of the facility was approved on November 2, 2015.
F2:
As a result of California State Assembly Bill 109, the prison system continues to work on reducing their population, and in turn, contributes to the County Jail’s overcrowding issues.
F3:
The current authorized staffing for the Amador Jail is inadequate.
Additional Recommendations
3
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The expansion and renovation plan should proceed as soon as possible.
R2:
It is recommended that alternative funding be sought for the replacement of the current Jail Facility as the planned addition to the jail is seen as a short-term resolution.
R3:
It is recommended that funding be sought for additional staffing to rectify old deficiencies and to bring the current and new facility to adequate staffing levels in accordance with acceptable local adult detention facility practices.
Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
All questions that were presented in advance by the Grand Jury were answered professionally, and in detail, during the preliminary briefing by the Warden and staff, and during the tour of the facilities.
F2:
The In-Fill Facility has relieved inmate overcrowding that occurred in the past at MCSP.
F3:
MCSP has a philosophy of education and/or rehabilitation, which is shown through the many valuable programs that are offered to the inmate population.
F4:
MCSP is listed on the ACA website as an accredited facility.
Additional Recommendations
3
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
It is recommended that MCSP continue to populate the In-Fill Facility to aid in preventing future overcrowded inmate situations.
R2:
It is recommended that MCSP continue to strive with the programs in place and research future programs for the health, welfare and safety of inmates and staff.
R3:
It is recommended that MCSP and the California Department of Corrections continue to search for and find economical ways to lower the operating budget of the facility.