BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS
The
Lassen County Board of Supervisors convene in Regular Session at
PUBLIC
COMMENT
1. Ed Hill feels the proposal to dissolve the
Mental Health Advisory Board is unfair.
Present
in the Closed Session are Supervisors Robert Pyle, Lloyd Keefer, Brian Dahle,
and Everd McCain; County Counsel Bill Murano, County Administrative Officer
Andy Whiteman, Deputy County Counsel Craig Settlemire and County Clerk Theresa
Nagel. Supervisor Chapman is
absent. Closed Session is recessed at
The
Lassen County Board of Supervisors reconvenes in Regular Session on
ANNOUNCEMENT
OF ITEMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION
The
AGENDA
APPROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS
CAO
Whiteman requests that Item H-8, computer network plan presentation, be moved
to the end of the meeting. Supervisor
Pyle requests the meeting be adjourned in memory of Merilyn Gibbs.
It
is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor McCain and carried to
approve the agenda as amended.
PUBLIC
COMMENT
1. Lea Christensen reads a statement relating to
the Mental Health Advisory Board supporting the current board members and in
opposition to the proposed "firing of them".
2. Russell Lesko, representing Lake Almanor
Habitat for Humanity, provides information on the activities of the group whose
function is to build homes for low income families. He states the Lake Almanor chapter is
repairing and renovating homes and their first project is for an elderly couple
in Westwood. Families must perform sweat
equity and pay for supplies/materials.
Volunteers
perform the labor. They expect to begin
building homes at some future time.
3. Melinda Visser states she is a member of the
public and a former client of the Mental Health Department. She states the issue of access to services is
nothing new for this department. She
relates her experience in being referred to the Mental Health Department and
not receiving a consultation until 5 1/2 months later. She asks the board members to focus on the
problems in the department in relation to the provision of services to the
community.
4. John Brooner states he has found that Mental
Health patients and employees rights are being violated. He states a special meeting was held last
night to consider the item on the agenda today to reconstitute the Mental
Health Advisory Board. There were three
members present and three absent. Mr.
Brooner distributes in written form and reads the action taken at the meeting
by members John Brooner, Mace De Lorme and Mary Sue Gregg. "Whereas, the members of the Mental
Health Board of Lassen County serve at the pleasure of and appointment by the
Lassen County Board of Supervisors, the Mental Health Board members present at
this meeting, respectfully request Supervisor Keefer be replaced by another
county supervisor to act as liaison between the Mental Health Board and the
Lassen County Board of Supervisors. His
replacement is requested due to his opposiontional (sic) and confrontational
attitude and negative public comments made without discussion or input by other
board members." Mr. Brooner
continues with a lengthy statement relating to the work of the Mental Health
Advisory Board and the issues that have led to the matter on the agenda
today.
Chairman
Dahle reminds Mr. Brooner that he as spoken quite a period of time, under
public comment, on a matter that is on the agenda and asks that he continue his
comments when that item comes up.
LASSEN
COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL
Executive
Director Colleen Thorn states this is the 21st year of operation for the Lassen
County Arts Council. She provides an
update on the activities of the council.
It
is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to adopt
Resolution No. 02-014, approving participation in the 2002-2003 State/Local
Partnership Program and the local priorities of the California Arts Council,
and authorizing execution of grant contracts with the California Arts
Council.
CONSENT
CALENDAR
Requests
for removal from the consent calendar for separate consideration are made: County Counsel Bill Murano - Item G-1,
minutes of February 26, 2002; Supervisor McCain - Item G-6, View Estates
Subdivision and Item G-10d, Mental Health Board minutes of February 13, 2002.
It
is moved by Supervisor McCain, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to take
the noted action on the following Consent Calendar items:
ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES - PURCHASE DIVISION ITEM
Approve
the lease/purchase of one Sharp digital copy machine Model AR-336 from Scott
Tanner Business Equipment; and authorize the Chairman to sign lease/purchase
agreement #34847 underwritten by citicapital,
(with a lease term of 5 years for a principal payment of $8,574.64, interest of
$655.64, totaling $9,230.28) for the Treasurer/Tax Collector.
BOARD
OF SUPERVISOR'S ITEM
Adopt
a Proclamation declaring the month of March as "Red Cross Month".
OFFICE
OF EMERGENCY SERVICES ITEM
Ratify
continuation of Declaration of State of Disaster / Emergency in Lassen
County.
PROBATION
DEPARTMENT ITEM
Approve
travel authorization request for Letha Martin and Robert Geffre to attend the
mandated Standards and Training for Corrections (S.T.C.) CORE Training at Santa
Rosa Jr. College March 3 through April 3, 2002, at the estimated cost of $4,100
per officer.
SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT ITEM
Approve
travel authorization request for four Correctional Officers to attend the
mandated Basic Correctional Officer Core Course at Yuba College from April 8
through May 7, 2002, at an estimated total cost of $10,311.80.
COUNTY
CLERK - ELECTIONS DIVISION ITEM
Receive
and file Certification of March 5, 2002, Consolidated Gubernatorial Primary
Election; and pursuant to Election Code Section 15400 declare all persons that
were elected or nominated and the results of each measure voted on.
COUNTY
COUNSEL ITEM
Approve
and authorize Chairman to sign an agreement between the County of Lassen and
the Westwood Chamber of Commerce for management, maintenance and custodial
services for the Westwood Visitor Center.
MISCELLANEOUS
CORRESPONDENCE ITEMS
Receive
and file the following correspondence:
a. Lassen County Alcohol & Drug Advisory Board meeting agenda for
March 5, 2002, and minutes of January 29, 2002.
b. Lassen County Planning Commission agenda for
March 6, 2002.
c. The Lassen County Transportation Commission agenda for March 11,
2002, and late agenda for March 11, 2002 meeting.
e. Lassen County Fair Advisory Board agenda for
March 12, 2002.
BOARD
OF SUPERVISOR'S MINUTES
County
Counsel Bill Murano points out the reference to Health and Safety Code should
be Welfare and Institutions Code in the minutes of February 26, 2002, on pages
HH-20 and HH-21.
It
is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor McCain and carried to
approve minutes of February 26, 2002 with the noted correction.
PUBLIC
WORKS DEPARTMENT - SURVEYOR DIVISION
Supervisor
McCain needs to know who the owner/subdivider is for View Estates in order to
determine if he has a conflict of interest.
County Clerk Nagel provides the subdivision map for his inspection and
it is determined that Pete Vossler is the owner.
It
is moved by Supervisor McCain, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to adopt
Resolution No. 02-013, approving Subdivision Map #2000-3, View Estates.
Chairman
Dahle directs staff to include the owners name on future subdivision map
approval requests.
MISCELLANEOUS
CORRESPONDENCE
Supervisor
McCain notes the Lassen County Mental Health Board minutes of February 13,
2002, (page 2) lists contract approvals.
He states the (MHAB) only has authority to recommend approval. The Lassen County Mental Health Board meeting
agenda for March 12, 2002, and draft minutes of February 13, 2002 and February
20, 2002, are received and filed.
LASSEN
COUNTY FAIR BOARD
The
Board of Supervisors recess and convene as the Lassen County Fair Board.
1. Fair Manager Claud Neely informs the board
members that he is still looking for funding sources to cover the North
Arena. He feels if it were covered there
would be activities scheduled every weekend and possibly during the week. He also wants to move the horse barns further
north for better utilization. He asks
the Board to authorize the Community Development Department to assist in
seeking grant funding. He also reports
on the
on-going
problem of dust blowing across the main parking lot into the adjoining mobile
home park. He has purchased slats to
insert in the fence between the parking lot and mobile home park and will be
receiving State funding to either chip-seal or pave the lot.
2. Mr. Neely requests a contribution of $3,500
for the July 4th Celebration to be held at the Lassen County Fairgrounds.
It
is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to
approve a contribution of $3,500 from Non-Departmental Budget.
The
Lassen County Fair Board adjourns and the Board of Supervisors reconvene.
LASSEN
COUNTY FISH AND GAME COMMITTEE
It
is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to
appoint Rob Hill to fill a vacancy on the Lassen County Fish and Game
Commission for District Three.
IN
HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD
It
is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to
appoint Joyce Green, Frances (Sue) Owens, Patti Ann Meadows, Chuck Garner and
LaNell M. Goforth, to fill vacancies on the In Home Supportive services
Advisory Board.
LASSEN
COUNTY BOARD OF LAW LIBRARY TRUSTEES
It
is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to
appoint Eugene Chittock and Dawson Arnold to fill vacancies on the Lassen
County Board of Law Library Trustees.
LASSEN
COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD
It
is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor McCain and carried to
accept a letter from Phillip Parry submitting his resignation from the Lassen
County Mental Health Advisory Board.
LOCAL
REUSE AUTHORITY
The
Board of Supervisors recess and convene as the Local Reuse Authority.
It
is moved by Supervisor McCain, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to
approve and authorize the CAO to sign a letter of support for the Herlong
Utilities Cooperative to apply to the Economic Development Administration for
water and wastewater facilities construction grant funding.
The
Local Reuse Authority adjourns and the Board of Supervisors reconvene.
Recess
10:34 - 10:38 a.m.
MENTAL
HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD
John
Brooner continues his statements begun under public comment. He gives examples of mental health service (access)
problems. He makes the statement that
the Board of Supervisors made them an advisory board so they do not have to
follow the Brown Act any longer. County
Counsel Bill Murano immediately responds this is not correct and they must
follow the Brown Act. Mr. Brooner wants
the Board to look at the flow of money because he feels it is going to
buildings, salaries, etc. instead of providing services.
Supervisor
Keefer states the issue before the Board is not the performance of the Mental
Health Department but the performance of the Mental Health Advisory Board
(MHAB). He states that he has been very
open with his concerns over the past several months. He feels the current MHAB is not complying
with their mandates and are not capable of doing so. He also expresses his concern over possible
liability issues because of some actions of the MHAB. He notes the special meeting held last night
was conducted without a quorum and he also notes that he never received the required
24-hour
written notice of the meeting.
Supervisor Keefer proposes the Mental Health Advisory Board be
reconstituted by removing all existing board appointees and directing the
County Clerk to advertise for vacancies.
It
is moved by Supervisor Keefer and seconded by Supervisor Pyle to remove all
existing Mental Health Advisory Board appointees; and direct the County Clerk
to advertise the vacancies.
Supervisor
Chapman states that he is distressed with the situation the Board of
Supervisors is in. He hoped the MHAB
would be a part of the solution for the department but they have become a part
of the problem.
Discussion
is held on the need to be sure the new MHAB is well educated on the Brown Act
and what their duties and functions are.
Supervisor McCain feels the performance of the Mental Health Department
is the issue. He feels the Board
representative on the MHAB (Lloyd Keefer) should have provided the guidance
needed by the MHAB and states this has not happened, instead it has become
adversarial. He states that "it
takes two to fight" and he blames Mr. Keefer for the adversarial
situation. He states the department and
Mr. Keefer have stifled the MHAB.
The
motion carries on a roll call vote, with Supervisor McCain voting NO.
BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS
It
is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried to
authorize the creation of an Emergency Medical Care Committee (EMCC) to begin
the task of developing the policy guidelines for Lassen County ambulance
services.
Suggested
members of council: Board of Supervisors - one member; Susanville City Council - one member; Lassen County Fire Department - Susanville
Fire Chief and one other member; Lassen
County Sheriff - one member; Emergency Services Chief - one member; Hospital -
one member; Physician - one member;
California Highway Patrol Commander - one member; Public Consumer -two
members.
Chairman
Dahle appoints Supervisor Pyle to be the Board of Supervisor's representative
and the CAO.
COUNTY
CLERK
It
is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried, with
Supervisor Dahle abstaining, to approve the minutes of the Board of
Supervisor's Special Meeting of February 27, 2002.
COUNTY
COUNSEL
It
is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried
unanimously, on a roll call vote, to introduce, by title only, Ordinance No.
548, repealing Chapter 2.32 - Defense Council; Chapter 5.08 - Cabarets and
Dance Hall; Chapter 10.16 - Bridge Speed and Weight Limits; Chapter 10.28 -
Parking; Chapter 10.40 - Bicycle Registration of the Lassen County Code.
It
is moved by Supervisor McCain, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried
unanimously, on a roll call vote, to introduce, by title only, Ordinance No.
549, amending Chapter 10, Vehicles and Traffic, of the Lassen County Code,
deleting Section 10.12.040, Maximum Tonnage--Unimproved Highway.
It
is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried
unanimously, on a roll call vote, to introduce, by title only, Ordinance No.
547, amending Chapter 9.20 (Trash Dumping along Highways) of the Lassen County
Code, adding "Section 9.02.030 Reward.
A reward of two thousand dollars ($2,000) shall be paid by the County to
any person furnishing information leading to the apprehension and conviction of
any person violating this Chapter."
ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES
1. It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by
Supervisor McCain and carried to approve the contract with TRG/LRS Consulting
for Architectural and Contract Administration services for the Sheriff's
Administration building; and authorize the County Administrative Officer to
sign the contract.
2. Chairman Dahle appoints himself and
Supervisor Chapman to meet with judges and county staff on the conceptual
design of administration/court complex.
ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES - PERSONNEL DIVISION
It
is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to
authorize the recruitment and hiring of an Account Technician position (No.
2125) for the Child Support Division at Range 15 as previously approved in the
2001/02 budget.
It
is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried to
authorize the recruitment and hiring of one Technical Support Specialist I/II
(Position No. 2126) for Child Support Services at Range 17/19 as previously approved
in the budget.
COUNTY
COUNSEL
It
is moved by Supervisor Keefer and seconded by Supervisor Pyle to adopt
Resolution No. 02-015, authorizing the County Administrative Officer to approve
contracts between Lassen County Health and Human Services Agencies and service
providers.
Supervisor
McCain wants to limit the type of contracts the CAO has authorization to
sign. Supervisor Chapman presents a
strong argument for authorizing the CAO to sign all contracts. He feels the disagreements about contracts that
occur between board members, on a regular basis, are a deliberate distraction
from the real issues that need to be resolved in the Mental Health Department.
The
motion carries with Supervisor McCain voting NO.
INFORMATION
FOR THE BOARD
1. CAO Whiteman informs the board members there
are four good candidates for County Counsel and he needs direction on how the
Board wishes to conduct interviews.
Board consensus is to hold a special open session meeting.
2. CAO Whiteman announces a representative from
the Fish and Wildlife Service will be at the March 26th meeting to discuss the
Wandering Skipper. Supervisor Dahle
notes the Farm Bureau is holding a meeting on March 20th in the Board of
Supervisor's Chambers to discuss the same subject.
3. CAO Whiteman announces that the employees are
arranging a county picnic for May 31st between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and
would like the board members to attend.
Supervisor Chapman will arrange for board members to purchase the
hamburgers.
4. CAO Whiteman announces a retreat for County
Department Heads is scheduled for all day on April 26th.
LEGISLATION
Supervisor
Chapman requests the board members consider adopting a resolution in support of
AB 1945, an act to add Section 54963 to the Government Code, relating to open
meetings; closed session: confidential information. He will be offering to testify in favor of
this legislation. He states we are
presently operating under two sets of rules, with some keeping closed session
discussion confidential and others not doing so.
It
is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to go
on record supporting AB 1945, with direction to staff to notify RCRC, CSAC, our
legislative representatives and the author of the bill; and to forward to the
author suggestions for changes as proposed by County Counsel Bill Murano.
UNAGENDIZED
BOARD REPORTS
1. Supervisor Chapman reports he will be
attending the CSAC Legislative meeting next week.
2. Supervisor Chapman announces the Fishing
Derby will be held on April 20th and asks that an item be placed on a future
agenda acknowledging that Lassen County provides insurance coverage for the
event.
3. Supervisor Chapman announces that tomorrow is
Isaac Roop's 103rd Birthday and asks that the meeting today be adjourned in
honor of Isaac Roop.
4. Supervisor Pyle announces that CalTrans will
be rehabilitating the next half of Highway 44 and they do not intend to fence
along the highway. He will be bringing
an item to a future meeting to address this.
5. Supervisor Pyle reports on the closing of
Fred's Road at Spalding Tract as a mitigation measure relating to the sewer
facility and what the Fish and Wildlife service has offered in exchange for the
closing.
6. Supervisor Pyle reports on his attendance at
Juvenile Committee meeting.
7. Supervisor Keefer reports on his attendance
at the PSA II-Area Agency on Aging, stating it was a real eye-opener.
8. Supervisor Keefer reports on his attendance
at the dinner for Robert Taylor upon his retirement from the California Department
of Forestry.
9. Supervisor Keefer reports on the Norcal
Conference.
10. Supervisor Keefer attended the Fire Safe
Council meeting and makes a report.
11. Supervisor Dahle reports on his trip to
Washington, D.C. which was funded by RCRC.
He lists the items addressed and who he met with.
ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES - INFORMATION SERVICES
Chris
Beard and Richard Hunrath make a presentation on the county computer network
plan.
Supervisor
Chapman compliments them on the work performed so far, stating he is impressed. He states it is essential as work progresses
to maintain good communication with all departments affected.
ADJOURNMENT
IN MEMORY
There
being no further business, the meeting is adjourned at 12:16 p.m. in memory of
Westwood businesswoman and community supporter Merilyn Gibbs, and Isaac Roop's
103rd birthday.
__________________________________________
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
ATTEST:
_______________________________________
THERESA
NAGEL, CLERK OF THE BOARD