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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.
⚠️ 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 5 findings
F1
Page 155
A review of current “Policy and Procedures Letters” and “Child Welfare Services Information Bulletins” show that Social Services wrote letters and bulletins regarding policies the Grand Jury identified as lacking. Response (Social Services): The Department agrees with this finding. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding.
F2
Page 155
In Social Service notebooks, finding procedures for specific topics is cumbersome. Social Services has placed letters and bulletins chronologically in notebooks with section tabs for years 1995-2000 and “Currently under revision” in the back. Each notebook has a key-word index, but Social Services staff indicated that a subject-based policy and procedures manual would be an asset to social workers. 2000-2001 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report 142 Response (Social Services): The Department agrees with this finding. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding.
F3
Page 156
On November 7, 2000, the Grand Jury asked for copies of the Foster Parent Handbook and Health and Education Passport by December 1, 2000. a. Social Services furnished a copy of the Foster Parent Handbook developed in Spring 1999, updated for November 29, 2000. Each page has date of revision noted. b. Social Services furnished a copy of Health & Education Passport notebook with instructions dated November 2, 2000. Social Services reports the notebooks are in use. There is no corroborating evidence to support this.
F4
Page 159
In a letter dated February 22, 2001, the Department of Planning and Building stated that the Planning and Building “will schedule this issue for discussion and direction by the Board of Supervisors with 90 days.” As of May 23, 2001, (the end of the 90 days) the issue had been scheduled for the June 6, 2001 Board of Supervisors meeting. Response (Planning and Building): The Department agrees with this finding with a minor clarification. The item was officially scheduled for, and heard by, the Board of Supervisors on June 12, 2001. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding with the date of correction noted by the Department.
F5
Page 159
Large businesses consider the current penalties no more than cost of doing business. Response (Planning and Building): Without additional information, we can neither agree nor disagree. While the Department previously agreed with this statement the Department no longer sees wholesale avoidance of the permit process. We believe this to be due to changes in the business and permit processing “climate”. 2000-2001 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report 146 Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with the departmental response. The Board believes the development of the streamlined permitting process has been a contributing factor in positive change towards business perception of a “user friendly” department and process.
Recommendations 16
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R1Page 155The BOC should insure that their Procurement Policy, which according to CDC complies with all applicable federal regulations, is strictly followed. The Handbook should be used as a reference for the BOC to insure that the Procurement Policy follows appropriate federal regulations. X
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R2Page 155The BOC should review Handbook Chapters 3-2 and 3-3, plus other pertinent chapters in the Handbook and 24CFR85.36, to insure that they have taken all required steps in the procurement process. X
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R3Page 155The Grand Jury recommends that the limits for “Petty Cash” and the $25,000 limit not needing BOC approval be reevaluated and possibly lowered. The limits which are stated in the Handbook are maximum limits and can be lowered by the HA. The BOC X
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R4Page 155The CDC should coordinate with the County on significant purchases (as authorized in the CDC Procurement Policy) and draw upon County expertise in appropriate areas. X
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R5Page 155The BOC should immediately insure that the Employee Manual is updated and that both management and staff are made aware of its existence. This manual should be used as a training tool for all staff.
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R6Page 155Management needs to receive training in personnel relations, anger management, inter-agency cooperation, internal communication, avoiding favoritism, and team building. X On-Going. This is an issue addressed between the Union representatives and the BOC.
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R7Page 156The Board of Commissioners should immediately consider its liability on the personal use of Agency vehicles.
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R8Page 156If the CDC Board of Commissioners wishes to enhance the ED’s compensation, the Grand
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R9Page 156The CDC should take immediate steps to initiate purchase and construction projects to replace the destroyed units and expand the inventory of affordable rental units. X On- going
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R10Page 156Training in HUD regulations and community development should be mandated for all members of the BOC. The BOC should be more aware of the business transactions conducted by the Commission and of personnel morale. X On- going
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R11Page 156Necessary steps should be taken to insure that there is an authorized alternate and the control of password codes is strictly enforced. X
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R12Page 156If the BOC does not now have a formal procedure to critically evaluate the ED and staff morale; a comprehensive procedure should be developed. X July 2001
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R13Page 157BOS should appoint commissioners without getting recommendations from the ED, which is allowing the “employee” to recommend who their X
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R14Page 157While the posting of BOC meetings meet legal requirements, the Grand Jury recommends that CDC consider using county wide news media to post meeting notices. For example, BOS meetings are posted at numerous other public places besides the Court House. X
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R15Page 157Minutes of BOC meetings need to be more specific as to what is discussed. A person not attending the meeting should be able to readily understand what the subject of discussion was by reading the minutes. The BOC should also ensure that all decisions, and the specifics of those decisions, be included in the minutes. X X
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R16Page 166The District Attorney plays a pivotal role in the criminal justice system’s response to family violence. The District Attorney must, through his actions, make it known to the community that domestic violence will not be tolerated in Mendocino County.