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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Merced County Grand Jury • 2005-2006

Merced County Grand Jury P. O. Box 2034

Published: July 25, 2006 9 pages

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⚠️ 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.

Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F5, F6, F7, F8, F9, F10, F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F17, F18, F19, F20, F21, F22, F23, F24, F25, F26, F27, F28, F29, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F35, F36, F37, F38, F39, F40, F41, F42, F43, F44, F45, F46, F47, F48, F49, F50, F51, F52, F53, F54, F55, F56, F57, F58, F59, F60, F61, F62, F63, F64, F65, F66, F67, F68, F69, F70, F71, F72, F73, F74, F75, F76, F77, F78, F79, F80, F81, F82, F83, F84, F85, F86, F87, F88, F89, F90, F91, F92, F93, F94, F95, F96, F97, F98, F99, F100, F101, F102, F103, F104, F105, F106, F107, F108, F109, F110, F111, F112, F113, F114, F115, F116, F117, F118, F119, F120, F121, F122, F123, F124, F125, F126, F127, F128, F129, F130, F131, F132, F133, F134, F135, F136, F137, F138, F139, F140, F141, F142, F143, F144, F145, F146, F147, F148, F149, F150, F151, F152, F153, F154, F155, F156, F157, F158, F159, F160, F161, F162, F163, F164, F165, F166, F167, F168, F169, F170, F171, F172, F173, F174, F175, F176, F177, F178, F179, F180, 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Findings 5 findings

Hiring a 15 year old to work on the computers.

Terminating an employee for reporting “Child Porn” on the agency computers.

Misuse of State and Federal funds.

Misuse of credit card. METHOD OF INVESTIGATION: The Grand Jury first considered if the Agency was appropriately under the purview of the Grand Jury. We determined that since the Agency received Government funds, that they were properly under our jurisdiction.

F2004 Page 7

There was no documentation of contact(s) made with the building contractor to address the correction of the problem. A follow-up visit by the Grand Jury was made to the Coroner’s Office on April 15, 2006 upon which they were informed that the decomposition room had been repaired three weeks prior. The repair to the room consisted of the installation of a $3,000.00 exhaust fan. The Coroner’s Office is in a position to meet the public concerning the death of family members or close friends. The meeting to discuss personal matters is often held at a 10 table that is positioned in an open area in central traffic. There is no privacy exhibited for the client. Although the Coroner’s Office is under the supervision of the Sheriff, it was noted by interviewing employees that a regular assessment of operations and facilities was not in evidence. An initial review of the Coroner’s Office interior and exterior exhibited a need of repair and maintenance for both building and grounds. Upon questioning the staff at the Coroner’s Office, there is definitely education lacking in the field and an on-site pathologist is absent.

Recommendations 9

R1
Page 14

The Sheriff and staff continue meeting with Correctional Officers in order for him to stay informed of the current situation and concerns of the facility. The Merced County Board of Supervisors should be required to tour the facility annually. During the tour on 2/14/06 with the Grand Jury, two supervisors mentioned that this tour was a “waste of time”. The overcrowding at this facility remains at a crisis level. Funding should be immediately obtained to hire additional staff as well as meet the operational expenses. Alternative funding should also be pursued which should include both Federal and State governments. This is a critical safety issue as well as a liability issue for the County. Over the past six (6) years different Grand Jury panels have visited this facility and all have come to the same conclusion. Staffing at this facility is at a crisis level! Adequate staffing will eliminate many of the current problems at the facility. This would also help the safety issue of Correctional Officers with the ratio of officers to inmates. On February 11, 2006, inmates filed a grievance with the facility Commander, citing overcrowding at the facility. Further the grievance cited frustration as this overcrowding created tension, fights and disciplinary problems. Note: As of May 26, 2006 the jail was still in “lockdown” status due to several altercations in the jail yard. The previous California Board of Corrections report was also critical of staff shortages. With the current growth of Merced County, both the Sheriff and the Merced County Board of Supervisors need to immediately start resolving this problem since it will only get worse by the month. Alternative housing options should be explored. The expansion of the current facility and/or an additional facility should be pursued. With the time it takes for funding, the bids for contracts, environmental impact reports and construction of an additional facility, we could be looking at several years before any relief is in sight. The public has become more aware of problems in both jails. There has been an overall lack of attention for these concerns in the past, by the County Board of Supervisors. If they don’t act now in an efficient and effective manner, it will be far more costly for the County in the future. COMMENDATIONS: Commendations are in order to the staff of the John Latorraca Correctional Facility for the very professional manner in which the tour was handled. Commendations are also in order to the Correctional Officers for the continued commitment for working under such stressful conditions. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
R2

The Merced County District Attorney meet with the Delhi Unified School District Board of Trustees regarding the purpose the Brown Act as it pertains to the conduct of Board meetings and Roberts Rules of Order procedures.
R3

Official minutes should include a chain of accountability and accuracy by including name and/or initials of person actually recording and typing records.
R4

Public records, including website, should be revised to update information including agendas, meetings, and notification of meeting time and place.
R5

Trustees follow the same format, using Brown Act and Roberts Rules guidelines, to categorize meetings, have consistent agenda formats, and accurate minutes, all approved in a timely manner.
R6

Board and Superintendent meet to review and discuss relationship and/or duties as defined by law.
R7

Actions taken at October 25, 2005 meeting (originally closed, then opened by request), be null & void
R8

This matter is referred to the Merced County District Attorney for possible action.
R9

During this investigation the complainant filed another complaint, this time naming the superintendent. Because of time constraints, it is advised the new complaint (Grand Jury # 05-06-25) be forwarded to the next grand jury (2006-2007) for further investigation. It is also recommended that this and subsequent reports and actions related to both complaints and/or allegations be included and referenced to each other for clarification and appropriate action. CITY OF ATWATER COUNCIL BENEFITS GRAND JURY COMPLAINT #05-06-19 COMPLAINT: The complaint concerns the recent action taken March of 2005 to allow Atwater City Council Members and their covered dependents to continue on the Health Plan at their own expense after they no longer serve on the Council. The complainant was concerned that the addition of aged non-employees would affect the pool of participants and thus create a liability for the City by increasing the cost. BACKGROUND: The City of Atwater participates in a State Wide Health Plan under the Public Employees Plan. The pool of covered lives consists of over 1.4 million participants. In March of 2005, the City Manager set forth a Resolution 2018-05 authorizing retention of benefits to City Council members. The background identified that this was already a practice of Atwater. The resolution was to formalize an existing practice. METHOD OF INVESTIGATION: 4/12/06 Interview with complainant. The complainant had two concerns. The City had no authority to grant former Council member’s benefits of any kind into perpetuity after they leave office. That contributions to the employee medical plans will be increased based on the adverse affect of the age retirees on the insurance pool as a whole, thus becoming an increase to the city. He had no complaint regarding the procedure. His sole concern appeared to be the financial impact on the City. 4/12/06 Interview with Atwater City Manager and the Atwater Director of Finance. The City Manager indicated the practice had been in effect prior to his tenure. There was no resolution in place authorizing this practice. He offered resolution 2018-05 to the Atwater City Council on March 14, 2005 for approval. This action did not create a change in policy or practice but rather a transparency to the community of the practice. The committee reviewed: The Resolution 2018-05 I, indicated that there was no fiscal impact to the City based on this action and that the health benefits for the retiree would not be paid by the City of Atwater but rather 100% by the participant. California Government Code 365.16(a) allows the City Council to be provided with the same benefits currently provided to the employees. The Cal Pers Health Benefit Summary, 2006. The cost of monthly premiums to contracting agencies. ANALYSIS: In reviewing the California Government Code 36516(a) the committee determined that the Atwater City Council was within their rights to grant this benefit to the council at retirement because it did not exceed the benefits allowed to active employees. The only concern that the committee noted was that there was no five-year service requirement contained in the Resolution 2018-05. However, we clearly did not find any violation. The committee found that based on the size of the health participant pool (CAL PERS) and the fact that the former council members are responsible and required to pay 100% of the contribution, there is no financial impact to the City of Atwater.

Commendations 4

CM1 Page 25

Hiring a 15 year old to work on the computers.
CM2 Page 25

Terminating an employee for reporting “Child Porn” on the agency computers.
CM3 Page 25

Misuse of State and Federal funds.
CM4 Page 29

Misuse of credit card. METHOD OF INVESTIGATION: The Grand Jury first considered if the Agency was appropriately under the purview of the Grand Jury. We determined that since the Agency received Government funds, that they were properly under our jurisdiction.