Butte County Grand Jury Report the Department of General Services*

The DGS is in the process of re-organization. Goals have been set to consolidate space for staff, equipment, and functions into one location. There are indications that they will soon be moving to a building adjacent to the county campus. This should improve efficiency and effectiveness.

The Director has shown vision and the ability to lead a department in a difficult transition process. He has established methods for input from the internal staff, as well as other departments, and ways to evaluate the effect of the re-organization. His objective is to remain flexible in order to respond to changing circumstances or to adapt to unanticipated needs.

The management style of the Director is reflected down the line in the positive attitudes and morale of all job classifications of staff interviewed.

The CDBG has provided money to improve the VMH by 2009 to meet the ADA requirements.

The staff responsible for the VMH has remarkably improved the relationship and of the Veteran's Committees in each community. enthusiasm

The VSO is providing assistance to veterans in an office that would greatly benefit from renovation to improve wheelchair access and to create privacy for interviews. FAR Form, No, 08- 046 has been prepared for consideration during the budget process.

The present Veteran Service Representatives do not currently have the level of accreditation needed to directly access the VA's data base and various veteran agencies. Existing methods are time intensive which reduce the efficiency of service to veterans.

When a Veteran Service Representative position was left vacant in 2003, it reduced the office coverage that allowed staff to attend the required out of office accreditation courses. In addition, the time needed to complete the required training and passing of examinations is long. For example, just one of the required sessions is for one week once a year in July, and other processes take up to six months. .If there were loss of staff at the present level, it could further jeopardize the future efficiency of providing services.

There were some indications that in the past, newly promoted managers would have liked to have more training in management and people skills. Presently, HR provides a variety of management classes which are well advertised. They are presented by HR staff five to six times each month.

The Grand Jury's overall impression of the department's operation and staff is extremely positive.