⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 8 findings
F1
The lack of established X R1. Form a formal election X timelines/procedures for elections committee to oversee all aspects resulted in missed opportunities for of the election process. interested individuals to apply for open board seats.
F2
The lack of a formal election X R2. Develop and distribute X committee to oversee the election annually a precise timeline for process led to confusion about elections. application deadlines, how/where ballots are returned, and how/who counts votes. d * r e d e h Findings g n id n i F /w e e r g A y l la it r a P s e e r g A y l lo h W s e e r g a s i D Recommendations d e t n e m e lp m I t n e m e lp m I l l i W e e N s i s y l a n A r e h t r u t O /t n e m e l p m I t o N l l F i W
F3
The lack of an established X R3. Use all communications that X process for announcing board have the greatest potential to reach vacancies, nomination prospective candidates, procedures, collection of ballots, including but not limited to flyers, and counting of votes prevented postings, social media, automated parents from being informed. phone calls, emails to parents, to announce board vacancies.
F4
Lack of clarity regarding the X R4. Revise bylaws Article VI, X 4th through 8th grade parent section 4a, from “a child currently” board representative requirement to “student currently enrolled in could result in a parent serving on 3rd through 7th grade.” the board who no longer has a student at RLA.
F5
Lack of clarity regarding the X R5. Nameplates should be X board representative requirements displayed and easily read from the could result in a 3rd grade parent audience, and a sound system used. who is not allowed to run even though he/she will have a 4th through 8th grade student during the elected term.
F6
Inability to hear and to X R6. Use both written and audio X identify board speakers make recordings of board meetings to board meetings difficult for the create a complete summary of all audience to comprehend the discussions and comments in the discussion. minutes.
F7
Inconsistent minutes of board X R7. Board members attend X meetings result in incomplete governance, ethics, and in-depth records of discussions and Brown Act training within sixty comments. days of an election or appointment to the board and annually thereafter. d * r e d e h Findings g n id n i F /w e e r g A y l la it r a P s e e r g A y l lo h W s e e r g a s i D Recommendations d e t n e m e lp m I t n e m e lp m I l l i W e e N s i s y l a n A r e h t r u t O /t n e m e l p m I t o N l l F i W
F8
A failure to follow the Brown X Act, such as adding items to the agenda or failing to notate exemptions in the minutes, may result in exclusion of interested individuals’ participation in discussions. Conclusion The 2020-21 SCCGJ is satisfied with the Riverbank Language Academy's response. The r esponse was received within the time frame stipulated by the California Penal Code §955(c). d r e h e d t O e e /t N n Findings g n id n i F /w e y l la it r a P s e y l lo h W s e e r g
Recommendations 7
-
R1The county shall implement an expanded clearance process by December 31, 2021, that will certify all vendors on federally funded programs, beyond the traditional suppliers of goods and services, are not disbarred or suspended from participation.
-
R2City of Turlock shall update and maintain their website in accordance with the requirements of the MFA and provide the same data to StanCOG.
-
R3City of Ceres shall update and maintain their website in accordance with the requirements of the MFA and provide the same data to StanCOG.
-
R4City of Patterson shall update and maintain their website in accordance with the requirements of the MFA and provide the same data to StanCOG.
-
R5RECIPIENT shall install or mount signage adjacent to each project or program in excess of $250,000 funded in whole or in part by Measure L funds identifying the project or program as being funded by Measure L revenues.
-
R7RECIPIENT shall actively participate in a “Public Awareness Program”, in partnership with STANCOG as a means of ensuring that the public has access to information regarding which projects and programs are funded through Measure L funds.
-
R8RECIPIENT shall make its administrative officer or designated staff available upon request to render a report or answer any and all inquiries regarding RECIPIENT’s receipt, usage, and/or compliance audit findings regarding Measure L funds before the Citizens Oversight Committee.
Conclusions 17
-
CL1 Page 11The lack of established X R1. Form a formal election X timelines/procedures for elections committee to oversee all aspects resulted in missed opportunities for of the election process. interested individuals to apply for open board seats.
-
CL2 Page 12The lack of an established X R3. Use all communications that X process for announcing board have the greatest potential to reach vacancies, nomination prospective candidates, procedures, collection of ballots, including but not limited to flyers, and counting of votes prevented postings, social media, automated parents from being informed. phone calls, emails to parents, to announce board vacancies.
-
CL3 Page 13The 2020-21 SCCGJ is satisfied with the Riverbank Language Academy's response. The r esponse was received within the time frame stipulated by the California Penal Code §955(c).
-
CL4 Page 11d r e h e d t O e e /t N n Findings g n id n i F /w e y l la it r a P s e y l lo h W s e e r g Recommendations d e t n e m e t n e m e lp m I s i s y l a n A r e h e m e l p m I t o N e r g e r g a s i lp m l l i W t r u l l i W A A D I F RUSD Superintendent F1. The lack of established X R1. Form a formal election X timelines/procedures for elections committee to oversee all aspects resulted in missed opportunities for of the election process. interested individuals to apply for open board seats. F2. The lack of a formal election X R2. Develop and distribute X committee to oversee the election annually a precise timeline for process led to confusion about elections. application deadlines, how/where ballots are returned, and how/who counts votes. F3. The lack of an established X R3. Use all communications that X process for announcing board have the greatest potential to vacancies, nomination procedures, reach prospective candidates, collection of ballots, and counting including but not limited to flyers, of votes prevented parents from postings, social media, automated being informed. phone calls, emails to parents, to announce board vacancies. F4. Lack of clarity regarding the X 4th through 8th grade parent board representative requirement could result in a parent serving on the board who no longer has a student at RLA.
-
CL5 Page 15The 2020-21 SCCGJ is satisfied that the RUSD Superintendent’s response was received within the time frame stipulated by the California Penal Code §955(c).
-
CL6 Page 2Participation in the Annual Financial Audit Report For the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2019 Case #20-04GJ Reason for Investigation Civil grand juries are required to investigate and report on the operations, accounts, and records of the departments or functions of the county, per California Penal Code §925. Therefore the 2019-2020 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury (SCCGJ) reviewed the Stanislaus County Audit Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, the county contracted with the firm CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA). Their final report was presented on March 2, 2020. In the course of their work, CLA found several material (non-trivial or significant) misstatements in prior financial reporting by the Auditor-Controller office. These misstatements were found as a result of a new auditing firm reviewing the books. Agencies Asked to Respond ❖ Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors…………….….….…F1, R1 ❖ Stanislaus County Auditor-Controller……………...............…F1, R1 d r e h e d t O e e /t N n Findings g n id n i F /w e y l la it r a P s e y l lo h W s e e r g Recommendations d e t n e m e t n e m e lp m I s i s y l a n A r e h e m e l p m I t o N e r g e r g a s i lp m l l i W t r u l l i W A A D I F Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors F1. The audit by CLA uncovered X R1. As noted in the summary, X several material misstatements in Stanislaus County used the same Stanislaus County's financial auditing firm for eight reporting. These errors occurred consecutive years. To minimize across several years. risk of future accounting errors and reporting, SCCGJ encourages the Auditor- Controller office to adopt a more frequent interval in the rotation of auditing firms.
-
CL7 Page 16The 2020-21 SCCGJ is satisfied that the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors’ response was received within the time frame stipulated by the California Penal Code §955(c).
-
CL8 Page 16The 2020-21 SCCGJ is satisfied that the Stanislaus County Auditor-Controller’s response was received within the time frame stipulated by the California Penal Code §955(c).
-
CL9 Page 18Election Security Case #20-09GJ Reason for Investigation From observation of behind-the-scenes election processes and discussions with personnel from the Office of the Registrar of Voters (ORV), the Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury (SCCGJ) found that the State of California and Stanislaus County maintain a diligent approach to electoral security. California state law mandates elections by paper ballot, with modern automation technology limited to optical scanning of hand-marked ballots. At the county level, strong security measures including the enforced absence of WI-FI connectivity protect daily activities in the ORV. Agencies Asked to Respond ❖ Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors……………………....F1-F3 d r e h e d t O e e /t N n Findings g n id n i F /w e y l la it r a P s e y l lo h W s e e r g Recommendations d e t n e m e t n e m e lp m I s i s y l a n A r e h e m e l p m I t o N e r g e r g a s i lp m l l i W t r u l l i W A A D I F Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors F1. Strong structural security to X ensure the physical integrity of ballots is maintained at both the ORV warehouse and the ORV. F2. To prevent individual tampering, X a two person chain of custody is maintained at every step in the handling of ballots.
-
CL10 Page 20In Home Support Services Case #20-12C Reason for Investigation The Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury (SCCGJ) initiated an investigation of the In Home Support Services (IHSS) program. The IHSS program is administered by Community Services Agency (CSA) in Stanislaus County. The investigation was initiated in response to a citizen complaint of mismanagement and poor oversight of the IHSS program. Agencies Asked to Respond ❖ Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors………...…….F1-F3, R1, R2 d r e h e d t O e e /t N n Findings g n id n i F /w e y l la it r a P s e y l lo h W s e e r g Recommendations d e t n e m e t n e m e lp m I s i s y l a n A r e h e m e l p m I t o N e r g e r g a s i lp m l l i W t r u l l i W A A D I F Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors F1. The current system of X R1. Monitor the state plan due to X documenting caregiver work hours be implemented during Spring- is prone to inaccuracies. Summer 2020 to switch to electronic timecards F2. A state-implemented X R2. Annually evaluate social X electronic timekeeping system worker retention rates to determine should reduce errors. the effectiveness of implementing an augmented path to promotion for social workers. F3. Failure to provide paths to X promotions caused difficulties in recruiting and retaining social workers.
-
CL11 Page 21Law Enforcement Drone Usage Case #20-19GJ Reasons for Investigation The 2019-2020 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury (SCCGJ) investigated the use of unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV/drones) within Stanislaus County law enforcement agencies. Drone technology continues to evolve, and SCCGJ was interested in how law enforcement agencies use drones in their respective operations. Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) regulations governing the commercial operations of drones by public entities are complex. SCCGJ sought to determine if all agencies operated within FAA guidelines. Agencies Asked to Respond ❖ Stanislaus County Sheriff……………………………...…..F1 ❖ Modesto City Council……………………………...…....…F1 ❖ Oakdale City Council………………………………………F1, F2, R1 Agencies Invited to Respond ❖ Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors ❖ Modesto City Police Chief ❖ Oakdale City Police Chief
-
CL12 Page 22d r e e h Findings g n id n i F /w e e r g A y l la it r a P s e e r g A y l lo h W s e e r g a s i D Recommendations d e t n e m e lp m I t n e m e lp m I l l i W d e e N s i s y l a n A r e h t r u t O /t n e m e l p m I t o N l l i F W Stanislaus County Sheriff F1. Modesto Police Department, X R1. Oakdale Police Department n/a n/a n/a n/a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s should seek additional Department and Oakdale Police opportunities to fly its drone to Department appear to consistently ensure optimal pilot skill level. follow approved FAA guidelines when flying drones in the execution of their law enforcement duties. F2. Oakdale Police Department, with n/a n/a n/a limited use of its drone, may find difficulty in maintaining pilot skill levels.
-
CL13 Page 16The 2020-21 SCCGJ is satisfied that the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s response was received within the time frame stipulated by the California Penal Code §955(c).
-
CL14 Page 23The 2020-21 SCCGJ is satisfied that the Modesto City Council’s response was received within the time frame stipulated by the California Penal Code §955(c).
-
CL15 Page 24The 2020-21 SCCGJ is satisfied with the Oakdale City Council’s response. The response was not received within the time frame stipulated by the California Penal Code §955(c).
-
CL16 Page 25Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury Participation in the Annual Financial Audit Report For the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2020
-
CL17 Page 262020-2021 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury Participation in the Annual Financial Audit Report For the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2020 Case # 21-14GJ SUMMARY Civil grand juries are required to investigate and report on the operations, accounts, and records of the departments or functions of the county, per California Penal Code §925. The 2020-2021 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury (SCCGJ) reviewed the Stanislaus County Audit Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. The County contracted with the firm CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) Certified Public Accountants to conduct the external audit. Their final report was presented to the SCCGJ on April 2, 2021. CLA reported that they found no material (non-trivial or significant) misstatements in the current year’s financial reporting by the Auditor-Controller office. The SCCGJ learned that CLA had discovered that the county did not approve lessors as vendors on federally funded projects. SCCGJ recomends that the county amend its federal program vendor approval policy to include lessors.
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Stanislaus County Auditor-Controller
Elected County Office
Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office