Tuesday, Sep 29 2009, 6:20 pm
By Susan Meeker/Tri-County Newspapers
If you have a question — just ask.
That was the informal response of the Colusa County Board of Supervisors to Colusa County grand jury about its criticism that the county paid $75,000 for a salary survey that was incomplete and not finished by the contracted date.
Board Chairman Gary Evans said the public flap over the salary survey could have been avoided if the grand jury had done its due diligence during its investigation and contacted county officials involved in the project.
"The grand jury didn't talk to any one of us," Evans said. "They went off half-cocked."
The grand jury, in its final report, said a citizen's complaint prompted the investigation into the existence of the salary survey that was to be provided by Nash and Company, a Palos Verdes consulting firm.
The grand jury secured a copy of the $75,000 contract dated Sept. 7, 2007, with work to be completed by April 30, 2008.
After its investigation, the grand jury reported that the contracted work was not completed and accepted by the county, as specified by the contract.
The grand jury also reported that the county paid the company in full before the work was completed and urged the county to improve its oversight of contracted services.
Brian Ring, personnel director, in his formal response to the grand jury, said the county should have initiated a formal extension of the deadline for the final survey, when county officials realized the initial date could not be met, but that the county "is pleased" with the report and the work produced by Nash and Company.
"The department feels the contractor delivered what was contracted for," Ring stated.
Ring said the contract with Nash and Company was to review and rewrite all 241 Colusa County job descriptions, bringing them up to date, and including Fair Labor Standards Act and American with Disabilities Act requirements.
The final report, which was received by the supervisors on March 3, incorporated career ladders, reduced the number of job classifications and developed a useable salary schedule in order to pay employees a competitive wage.
Ring said the county will consider implementing the salary options only when funding allows.
Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.
http://www.colusa-sun-herald.com/news/spending-3564-county-criticizes.html
No comments:
Post a Comment