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⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 5 findings
F1
Potential failure of the e911 system is of concern. This concern became a reality when the optic fiber cable was cut in April 2004 causing the entire e911 system to go out of service due to a non-looped configuration with the connection to the south. On several occasions, the Sheriff has approached Verizon, requesting a connection to the north to create a loop, allowing the signal to be rerouted to other connections if broken, and thereby preventing failure of the e911 system. Verizon has refused, stating it would be cost prohibitive. As recently as the May 4, 2004, Board of Supervisors meeting, the Sheriff reported ongoing deficiencies concerning the status of the county's telephone system, and recommended the board move to a legislative approach to include the loop improvements in a revised tariff that allows Verizon to operate in the county. The Board of Supervisors discussed this recommendation at the May 7, 2004, Council of Governments meeting, where a vote was taken to address the problem with a regional approach. The Council of Governments is comprised of representatives from Inyo and Mono counties, Mammoth Lakes and Bishop. Staff has been assigned to follow up with this approach. Safety issues concerning lack of signage on private roads and building numbers on private homes were identified, preventing or impairing emergency response personnel to locate residents and/or visitors in a timely manner. Staff has reviewed the county's codes and ordinances and has determined there is confusion regarding older buildings. The County Code is clear in its requirements for new construction, but less clear concerning its authority regarding existing and older construction. Recommendations to clarify the County Code will be presented to the board this summer. This has not been addressed yet due to lack of available resources, most likely as a result of relatively low professional salaries. The salary level will be increased as needed to attract qualified candidates until the positions are filled. Implementation of the program to improve signage will also be problematic due to ongoing budget constraints that have been further aggravated by the state of California's budget deficit. Public Works staff has developed a program to provide signage on private roads using county equipment, tools and materials. This is a voluntary, ongoing problem, relying primarily on local Regional Planning Advisory Committees to disseminate information to property owners. The property owner is responsible for installing signs and building numbers. A public education program will be needed to encourage people to improve signage, address and other emergency information.
F2
Page 15
Safety issues concerning lack of signage on private roads and building numbers on private homesw ere identified, preventingo r impairing emergencyr esponsep ersonnelt o locate residentsa nd/or visitors in a timely manner.S taff hasr eviewedt he county's codesa nd ordinances and hasd eterminedt here is confusion regardingo lder buildings. The County Code is clear in its requirementsfo r new construction,b ut less clear concerningi ts authority regardinge xisting and older construction.R ecommendationtso clarify the County Code will be presentedt o the board this summer.T his has not been addressedy et due to lack of availabler esourcesm, ost likely as a result of relatively low professionals alaries. The salary level will be increaseda s neededt o 11 attract qualified candidatesu ntil the positions are filled. Implementation of the program to improve signage will also be problematic due to ongoing budget constraintst hat have been further aggravatedb y the stateo f California's budgetd eficit. J Public Works staff has developeda program to provide signageo n private roads using county equipment,t ools and materials.T his is a voluntary,o ngoing problem.r elying primarily on local Regional Planning Advisory Committeest o disseminatei nformation to property owners. The property owner is responsiblef or installing signs and building numbers.A public education program will be neededt o encouragep eople to improve signage,a ddressa nd other emergency information.
F3
Accuracy of the e911 database is of concern. Local fire departments, the Building Division and other agencies have been working in conjunction with Public Works staff to identify address discrepancies, primarily through the issuance of new building permits. Duplicate addresses are being revised in older developments with on-site inspections being done through inspections for construction. Staff working on the county Geographic Information System has identified 400 duplicate addresses in condominiums in the county, which have been corrected. Discrepancies are being corrected as they are reported; however, older addresses continue to be problematic due to budget constraints.
F4
The need for a special health needs data base was identified. A system is in place through the Health Department to collect confidential information concerning special needs. The information is maintained in the county's GIS system. There are confidentiality concerns that need to be resolved, and once this is accomplished, information will be disbursed through the Sheriff's department as needed to the EMS system based on a call from a particular location. There are strict rules that prevent the county from distributing medical information for EMS's in- house use.
F5
Page 16
The Board of Supervisorsn eedst o hold Verizon accountablefo r the moneysc hargedo n individual phoneb ills for the e911 system. J STANDI N G COMMITTEES d ADMINISTRA TION COMMITTEE BACKGROUND The Administration Committee receivedt wo letters of complaint during this term. Both letters addressedp erceivedi ssuesw ithin the Human ResourcesD epartmento f Mono County. Unfortunately, the second letter was received in May, and details of the issues were only determinedi n June,s o the committeeh asr eferredt his complaintt o the next grandj ury. FINDINGS Human Resourcesi s a relatively new department.a pproximately three years old. The departmentw as developedi n responseto a previousG randJ ury Final Report.T he entire staff of the departmenth as recently retired, effective June 30, 2003, or beent ransfened.T his will leave one employee,w ho hasb eeni n the departmentf or only two months.T he County Administrative Officer is advertisingf or a departmentm anagera t this time. The complaints allege that Human Resourcesis operatingw ithout clear and defined policies. Specifically, the complaintsa lleget hat indi vidualsa re being treatedi mproperly. The committee conducted a series of interviews with county personnel and the complainantst o help understandth e issues.I t appearst hat the County Administrative Officer is j awareo f the shortcomingso f the HumanR esourcesa rea.G iven the magnitudeo f this department as it affects the morale and well-being of the entire county employeeb ase, it is not receiving adequatem anagemenat ttention. Additional delays to implement a complete personnels ystem "J will exposet he County to WorkersC ompensationc laims and lawsuits. RECOMMENDAllONS 1. The updateo f the "County PersonnePl olicies and ProceduresH andbook". currently in uses ince 1982,s houldb e completedn o later than Septembe2r 004.
Recommendations 5
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R1Implementation of improvements to the county's e911 telephone be aggressively pursued by the Board of Supervisors until Verizon makes connections.
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R2The county's codes and ordinances must be clarified so that the requirements for new and older construction are consistent. If necessary, new codes or ordinances must be adopted to ensure property owners are compliant in placing street signage and building numbers. The Board of Supervisors has ultimate responsibility to assure these steps are taken in the name of public safety.
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R3Identification of duplicate addresses and address discrepancies in the e911 database must be an ongoing process. Due to the fact that older addresses within the county continue to be problematic, these addresses should be targeted until Public Works verifies their accuracy.
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R4Issues relating to confidentiality concerns must be resolved to allow dissemination of special needs information through Sheriff's dispatch. Dispatch personnel should be instructed to continue asking pertinent questions to verify the accuracy of information displayed as to the identity and location of callers. The Board of Supervisors needs to hold Verizon accountable for the moneys charged on individual phone bills for the e911 system. STANDING COMMITTEES ___ ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
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R5The incoming grand jury should continue this inquiry until adequate personnel procedures and policies are in place. _ ***** AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION The Audit and Finance Committee selectively reviews the accounts, financial statements and audit reports of Mono County, any special district, the Town of Mammoth Lakes, and the various school districts within Mono County. The Committee also responds to citizen complaints and concerns.
No Responses Found 3
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Mono County Auditor-Controller
Elected County Office
Mono County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office
Mono County Sheriff
Elected County Office
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