2024 - 2025 Tuolumne County Civil Grand Jury Board of Supervisors Actions and Obligations May 23, 2025

Findings and Recommendations 3 findings

F1

The Board of Supervisors failed to provide sufficient transparency, nor honest and effective communication to staff and the community regarding board decisions, goals, and financial liabilities. This lack of transparency eroded public trust in the Board of Supervisors.

Related Recommendations (1)

R1

The Board of Supervisors should develop and implement a comprehensive public information program by January 1, 2026, utilizing both digital and traditional media platforms to proactively communicate the Board's priorities and objectives, with particular emphasis on public safety initiatives and fiscal accountability measures.

F2

The Board of Supervisors failed to comply with the provisions and intent of the Brown Act, further contributing to mistrust of the Board by both the public and county staff.

Related Recommendations (1)

R2

The Board of Supervisors should develop and implement formal procedures - no later than January 1, 2026 - authorizing a Public Information Officer or other designated representative to serve as the Board’s official spokesperson under clearly defined circumstances. 18

F3

The Board of Supervisors failed to exercise adequate direction and oversight over the CAO and non-elected Department Heads to ensure proper personnel policies and procedures were followed. This failure fostered a widespread perception among county employees and the public, that favoritism influenced hiring and promotions, and that policies and procedures were implemented inequitably.

Related Recommendations (1)

R3

The Board of Supervisors should strictly and immediately comply with the Brown Act, upholding its provisions with the utmost diligence and adhering to County Counsel’s guidance on compliance.

Additional Recommendations 3

These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.

R4

The Board of Supervisors should immediately and consistently evaluate its Brown Act actions through the lens of public perception, recognizing that even the appearance of impropriety can be as damaging as actual misconduct.
R5

The Board of Supervisors should establish and implement a formal annual performance evaluation process for all non-elected Department Heads and the CAO by January 1, 2026. This process must ensure full compliance with all applicable county personnel policies and procedures.
R6

The Board of Supervisors should modify the existing reporting structure to require the Director of Human Resources and Risk Management to report directly to the Board of Supervisors rather than through the CAO, with this change implemented no later than January 1, 2026.

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors

July 11, 2025 • 3 pages • 9 responses • Score: 0 (+1, 6, -1) View Details ▾

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9 responses to findings and recommendations

F1

The Board of Supervisors failed to provide sufficient transparency, nor honest and effective communication to staff and the community regarding board decisions, goals, and financial liabilities. This lack of transparency eroded public trust in the Board of Supervisors.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The Board of Supervisors partially agrees with this finding. However, they have taken steps over the last several years to address communication and transparency, including using the OpenGov budget software so the public can easily access the budget detail online, they have used ClearPoint to create Board priorities, and Board meetings are available to livestream. The Board of Supervisors agrees that the County needs to improve communications and transparency with the citizens of this county.

R1

The Board of Supervisors should develop and implement a comprehensive public information program by January 1, 2026, utilizing both digital and traditional media platforms to proactively communicate the Board's priorities and objectives, with particular emphasis on public safety initiatives and fiscal accountability measures.

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

R-1 Response: The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future as the Board of Supervisors agrees that the County needs to improve communications and transparency on items.

F2

The Board of Supervisors failed to comply with the provisions and intent of the Brown Act, further contributing to mistrust of the Board by both the public and county staff.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

The Board of Supervisors disagrees with this finding, as there is insufficient evidence that a Brown Act violation occurred.

R2

The Board of Supervisors should develop and implement formal procedures - no later than January 1, 2026 - authorizing a Public Information Officer or other designated representative to serve as the Board’s official spokesperson under clearly defined circumstances. 18

Response: Requires Analysis

Score: 0

The recommendation requires further analysis, because the Board would like to study whether or not a Public Information Officer is necessary and examine the cost of such a position. This is anticipated to be reviewed within the fiscal year. The Board of Supervisors should strictly and immediately comply with the

F3

The Board of Supervisors failed to exercise adequate direction and oversight over the CAO and non-elected Department Heads to ensure proper personnel policies and procedures were followed. This failure fostered a widespread perception among county employees and the public, that favoritism influenced hiring and promotions, and that policies and procedures were implemented inequitably.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

<u>The Board of Supervisors partially agrees with this finding</u>. The County has used a protocol to address this in the past. The County also implemented a formal process for recruitment in 2024, which includes increased oversight by HR and a broader Nepotism policy in the updated personnel policies that more explicitly outlines conflicts of interest. In a small county, there will be family members and friends who may be employed/applicants across the organization. Recommendations The Board of Supervisors should develop and implement a comprehensive

R3

The Board of Supervisors should strictly and immediately comply with the Brown Act, upholding its provisions with the utmost diligence and adhering to County Counsel’s guidance on compliance.

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

R-3 Response: The recommendation has been implemented, and if an inadvertent error occurs, the Board of Supervisors takes efforts to correct violations.

R4

The Board of Supervisors should immediately and consistently evaluate its Brown Act actions through the lens of public perception, recognizing that even the appearance of impropriety can be as damaging as actual misconduct.

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

R-4 Response: The recommendation has been implemented.

R5

The Board of Supervisors should establish and implement a formal annual performance evaluation process for all non-elected Department Heads and the CAO by January 1, 2026. This process must ensure full compliance with all applicable county personnel policies and procedures.

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

R-5 Response: This recommendation has been implemented.

R6

The Board of Supervisors should modify the existing reporting structure to require the Director of Human Resources and Risk Management to report directly to the Board of Supervisors rather than through the CAO, with this change implemented no later than January 1, 2026.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Recommendation 6 require the Director of Human Resources and Risk Management to report directly to the Board of Supervisors rather than through the CAO, with this change implemented no later than January 1, 2026.