SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION
MINUTES
August 26, 2002

Attendees:

Name Title Representing
Amerikaner, Steve Legal Counsel Goleta West Sanitary District
Arnold, Chuck Director/President Montecito Sanitary District
Azoury, Kamil General Manager Goleta Sanitary District
Bernstein, Mitch General Manager S.B. Vector Control District
Blair, Charles Director Vandenberg Village CSD
Clark, Candyce J. Secretary Los Alamos CSD
Dinkin, Jeffrey Attorney-at-Law Hatch & Parent
Fox, John Director Goleta Sanitary District
Emerson, George Director Goleta Sanitary District
Howerton, Joyce Guest: Responsible Taxpayers Against County Split
McKenzie, Jim Director Montecito Sanitary District
Nix, Bruce Director Mission Hills CSD
Raggio, Jim CEO, CHD Lompoc Health Care District
Rogers, Carey Director Goleta Water District
Schlottmann, Cathy Director Mission Hills CSD
Schwartz, S. David Director Embarcadero MID
Smith, Jerry General Manager Montecito Sanitary District
Tosti, Raymond L. Director/President Los Alamos CSD
Wilson, Larry Director Montecito Water District
 

Call to Order:

President John Fox called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. The attendees were introduced.

The minutes of the July 22, 2002, meeting were approved.

Treasurer Chuck Arnold reported that our checking account has a balance of $2,495.34 and the savings account has a balance of $6,163.23 for a total of $8,658.57.

Executive Board Report: John Fox announced that a newsletter will be sent to all the districts in the county regarding this year’s accomplishments by our association. The board is planning an all-day seminar with our districts’ attorneys explaining all the new laws and educating new directors.


Reports:

LAFCO Report: Mitch Bernstein spoke on the first meeting of the Technical Task Force. He attended with Charles Hamilton and Ron McClain. John Patton from the County Planning department will have to be replaced soon as he is retiring. Both of the County representatives, John Patton and Mike Brown, spent a lot of time talking about the housing issues. They want to see the Municipal Service Reviews address these issues.

Mitch made a motion to invite the consultant, Pam Cosby, to our September meeting to update us on the progress of the Task Force. Motion passed.

CSDA Report: John Fox spoke on the Region 5 Director elections. He recommends that we vote for Jim McCosta of Ventura County for more balanced representation from our region. George Emerson also endorses Jim McCosta. John also announced that the CSDA Annual Conference will be held in San Diego on September 24th to the 26th.

Chuck Blair introduced Joyce Howerton, a representative from Responsible Taxpayers against the County Split. Joyce said the proponents of the split have until January 1, 2003, to gather the required signatures. However, there seems to be little activity at this time getting signatures. In her opinion, the real issue is econmics. The cost for the study that will be done if the petition is successful will be well over a million dollars. It requires evaluation of every county department. Pension costs for all county employees that go to the new county are not determined by current law. Payment of these costs would be negotiated by attorneys representing the employees and the two counties.


Speaker:

John Fox introduced Jeffrey Dinkin, our guest speaker, who is an attorney with Hatch and Parent.

Jeff topic was "Staying Ahead of the Curve: Employment Law Update".

The highlights of his speech and handout were Worker’s Compensation Leave, Disabled Employees, Sexual Harassment Complaints, and Handling the Problem Employee.

Some of his suggestions for directors to enhance their agency’s position in these areas:

  1. Update personnel policies;
  2. Make sure you have accurate job descriptions;
  3. Provide adequate training to worker and supervisors - especially in sexual harassment;
  4. Train supervisors in evaluating their employees and recording problems;
  5. Look at complaint procedures;
  6. Decide what to do in a disciplinary conflict, i.e., hearing before the board of directors or a group of hearing officers who pass their findings to the board;
  7. Review the appeal process;
  8. Route things through the system - use the proper procedures;
  9. Have a really good evaluation procedure for the general manager.

Adjornment:

The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

 

 

________________________________

Carey Rogers, Acting Secretary

SBCSDA