⚠️ 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 and Recommendations 6 findings
F1
Page 26
The Board disagrees with the Grand Jury’s finding that District equipment has been misused. ‘The District does maintain logs of vehicles use, although these are maintained in the District office and not in the vehicles themselves. Morcover, the Grand Jury did not interview our Field Supervisor, which may explain why they were not aware that logs are maintained. In addition, the District’s staffmembers respond to emergencies on a weekly basis throughout our geographically large district, as is common for a water treatment system with aging infrastructure, such as the District’s. In light of the Grand Jury’s concern, however, the District has directed its staff to recirculate the existing vehicle use policy to all employees. 70385.1 P.O. Box 299 - Brownsville, California 95919 - Phone (530) 675-2567 or (530) 692-1463 - FAX (530) 675-0462 Honorable Dennis J. Buckley October 19, 2005
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Page 7
— The City should hire permanent staff, including a building inspector, city manger and financial officer, as soon as it becomes financially feasible. Response 1 — We concur. The recommendation has been implemented in part. A new Building Inspector has been hired on a regular part-time basis. An interim professional Finance Director has been hired as a first step towards a permanent solution. Likewise the City has hired a professional interim City Manager as a first step to “put our administrative house in order.” Planned follow-up actions include recruiting for permanent staff — likely within one year. The City intends to implement the balance of this recommendation as and when feasible based on the City’s revenues and financial condition.
F2
Page 27
The Board disagrees with the Grand Jury’s finding that District funds have been misused. The report appears to be based on one instance of personal use of a District credit card, subsequently repaid to the District, of some two or three years ago. Following that incident, the District established a policy forbidding any personal use of District credit cards and the Board is unaware of any violation of that policy since it was established. As to the District’s policy of reimbursing employce lunches, this practice is limited to employees whose duties take them away from their usual work location — as trips into Marysville for parts and supplies — that prevent an employee from using the District’s lunch room. This policy is in compliance with wage and hour laws and with the memorandum of understanding with the union that represent the District’s employees. In light of the Grand Jury’s concerns, however, the District will recirculate its credit card policy to all employees and will raise the lunch reimbursement policy in negotiations with its employees to see if this policy can be clarified to avoid further misunderstandings.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 8
— The possibility of acquiring the buildings vacated by the elementary school for the use of the City should be explored. Response 2 — We concur and are currently in discussions with the school district on this issue. The City intends to implement this recommendation.
F3
Page 27
The Board’s response to this finding, regarding alleged misuse of compensatory time by the District’s General Manager in violation of the terms of his contract, is necessarily limited due to the privacy rights of the District’s General Manager. The District is consulting legal counsel regarding the Manager’s rights under his current employment agreement and will seek an amended agreement with the Manager to address this and other issues.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 8
— In cooperation with Caltrans, the City should continue to pursue the installation of the traffic signals. Response 3 — We concur. This recommendation will be implemented. With the State Department of Transportation as the lead agency, the timing of construction depends on the state. The City is “encouraging” them as much as possible. These are critical projects for public safety.
F4
Page 27
The majority of the Board does not agree that Brown Act violations have occurred. However, the Board unanimously recognizes the important principles reflected in the Brown Act, which is intended to ensure that government functions in the open, and with the participation of its constituents. The District affirms its commitment to the spirit and the letter of the Brown Act and has directed its newly retained General Counsel to conduct training for Boardmembers, staff, and the public on the Brown Act. The Board has also directed its General Counsel to attend Board meetings for the near future, concluding that the expense of this support is warranted to ensure that his assistance with meeting management and Brown Act requirements is available to the Board and the community we serve.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Page 8
— The City should assure that the fees tor water usage are properly charged and collected. Response 4 — This recommendation has been implemented. In June 2005, the City Council reviewed and established new water rates, which included a consumption component in the rate structure. New billings/rates began effective August 1, 2005.
F5
Page 27
The District agrees with this finding. Correction of these incomplete annexations will be expensive and time-consuming, but the District is committed to achieving it. Our Board has unanimously directed our General Counsel to work with staff to develop an action plan to address this problem.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Page 8
— The City should continue to explore all available grants or loans to finance the sewer system repair and modernization of the sewer system. Response 5—We concur. This recommendation is being implemented. The City has now obtained a series of low interest loans ($50,000, $600,000 and $4 million) to address sewer system repairs as well as long-term plant replacement. We continue to pursue grants as well.
F6
Page 27
The Board agrees that relations among its members have not been what they should be in recent months. All Boardmembers have recommitted themselves to conducting the public’s business in a civil and respectful manner. The recent election of a fifth director to filla vacant Board position should also end the deadlock which has characterized some of our discussions and facilitate our work on behalf of the people we serve. 763851 Honorable Dennis J. Buckley October 19, 2005
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Page 8
— The City Council should implement the recommendations contained in the Assessment and Findings Report submitted by the panel. Response 6 — We concur and that work effort is underway as can be seen by the responses above. The City intends io implement this recommendation as and when feasible based on the City’s revenues and financial condition. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Grand Jury report. Please contact us if you have any questions of if you would like any additional information. A OL ___Sincerely, a“ a4 CE f ENITA ELPHIC Mayor, City of Wheatland 2005 Council Chair Sally Sokoloski, YCOE 749-4871 sally.sokoloski@yubacoe.k 12.ca.us Criminal] Justice Steve Roper eral Yusa County Cuitpren’s Councit sroper(@co. yuba.ca.. Us “Improving the well being of children in Yuba County” Mental Health/SA ; Joan Hoss A Gk - L 65 Sutter-Yuba Mental Health 822-7200 FE! E D jhoss@co,.sutter.ca.us . The Honorable Dennis J. Buckley YUBA COUNTY Lo COURT Community Governance . H. STEPHEN KONISHI John Nicoletti Judge of the Superior Court PERIOR COURT CLERK Yuba Co. BOS 215 5" Street BY 749-7510 Marysville, CA 95901 jnicoletti@co.yuba.ca.us Education & Early Care Gay Todd MJUSD 749-6158 SUBJECT: Response to the 2004/2005 Final Grand Jury Report gtodd@mjusd.k12.ca.us Social Services Council Chair Elect Joyce Ash Yuba Co. Health & Human Sves. Health Dennis Bissell MJUSD mois “isd k12.ea.us Recommendation #1: issell@nuusd.k12. caus Local government entities represented on the Children’s Council need to van enforcement communicate with each other about their protocol and services for Yule County Sheriff runaways and their families. 749-7777 vblack@co. yuba.ca.us Resp onse: Faith Community The issue of runaway youth has been added by Chief Probation Officer ie Prestytesan Church Steve Roper to the list of council priorities for the coming year. It will be 742-5541 incorporated into the strategic planning process and discussed at the firstpres(@ips.net council’s monthly meetings. Agency protocols regarding responses and Community Based Org. services to runaway youth will be shared by council participants during Janet Siller - . Friday Night Live discussion. 742-5483 fnl@syix.com Community Sincerely, Cathy LeBlanc YCCHC 741-1499 w / if : | lan f sf, , cathy@eville.k12.ca.us ay, (ey Va Kil ihe Employment & Training . Bill Simmons Sally Sokoloski YCOERegional Career Ctr. Children’s Council Chair 749-4801 bill. simmons(@yuba l stop.org ether 6 Na Eee am mene LO} ait D3 Dear Judge Buckley, The following response is forwarded to the Grand Jury Recommendation regarding runaway youth. Council Secretary Bev Dal Porto 822-7505 bdalporto/co. sutter.ca.us The County of Yuba AUDITOR - CONTROLLER aaa * DEAN E. SELLERS Tyla, “ . Math 915 8th Street Suite 105 mee Marysville CA 95901-5273 (530) 749-7810 <q LTRrOR™ AUG 29 2005 I E Be, 4 . i ‘ i" ¢ YUBA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT Sew” H. STEPHEN KONISH: ERIOR whewe Sa ts August 24, 2005 Honorable Dennis J. Buckley 2004 -05 Grand Jury Presiding Judge BY 215 5th Street Suite 200 Marysville CA 95901 Wine Dear Judge: All funds transferred are approved by the Board of Supervisors, by budget hearings, or by budget transfer form. All special funds are deposited daily. If 1 do not know where they need to be directed, they are placed in the Treasurer’s Suspense fund. Once | know where the money belongs, a new fund is set up, or transferred to the proper revenue account. My office is open to anyone wanting information about the County of Yuba. I am audited every year and have a clean report. Very truly yours, deo c. SoDdle.. Dean E. Sellers, Auditor-Controller Pc: County Administrator The County of Yuba OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 915 8" Street, Ste 109 Marysville, California 95901 (530) 749-7510 (530) 749-7353 FAX . SEP 2 3 2005 The Honorable Dennis Buckley = Yuba County Superior Court j L E 215 Fifth Street YUBA COUNTY SUPERIOR COU D Marysville, CA 95901 H. STEPHEN KONISH! il ) SUPERIOR COURT CLERK BY — Ct RE: RESPONSE TO 2004/05 GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT A COURT CLERK Dear Judge Buckley: Provided pursuant to Penal Code Section 933(c) are the comments of the Board of Supervisors related to the findings and recommendations contained in the 2004/05 Grand Jury Final Report. Consistent with Section 933(c), responses do not address departments under control of elected officials or outside agencies, except where a specific response was solicited and then our response is consistent with provisions of Penal Code Section 933.05(c). Therefore, we incorporate the responses of the various departments with our responses. YUBA COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT