By Tiffany Revelle The Daily Journal
Updated: 07/01/2011 09:19:20 AM PDT
The Mendocino County grand jury has issued a scathing report about the Mendocino County Department of Transportation, saying the department is rife with bad management.
The report, titled, "Covering Your Asphalt: A Report on the Mendocino County Department of Transportation," calls for the Board of Supervisors and county Executive Office to review the department's operations and "take an active role in resolving employee discontent" in the department, for county Human Resources to directly handle employee complaints and for a management review to determine whether an assistant director and four deputy directors "are critical to the department," among other recommendations.
"In 2006, more than 70 employees have left, transferred or retired from MCDOT," the grand jury concludes. "There is persistent employee-management discontent, which seems to impede employee efficiency and productivity. This ultimately results in the deterioration of staff morale."
The report states there are "a number of employees" who may retire, transfer or seek other employment "because of management practices."
The report notes that the county's Pavement Condition Index rating was 45 out of 100 in 2010, despite an accumulated fund balance of $4.6 million.
"This dysfunction between MCDOT staff and management may undermine public safety by creating the avoidable and unintentional result of substandard and unsafe road conditions," the grand jury report states.
The grand jury lists almost 20 findings about poor management, communication problems and inefficient practices.
"There are significant inter/intra-departmental barriers, communication deficiencies and poor decision-making practices," the grand jury states.
Among the problems, according to the report, is that clerical staff in four divisions of MCDOT must get approval from one person -- the deputy director of administration -- before doing a task for their division.
The grand jury recommends allowing deputy directors to "exercise authority over their department without interference from the deputy director of administration."
"There is staff confusion regarding departmental responsibilities and authority," and what is described as "routine shifting of priorities" causes inefficiency, according to the report.
The department's senior analyst holds the department's procurement card, needed to make certain direct purchases.
"This arrangement makes it difficult when an emergency develops." The county's General Services Agency also charges an internal fee of 13 percent to process those purchases, according to the report. The grand jury calls for the GSA to justify that charge.
The report also says management "is practicing favoritism" in hiring, employee evaluations and training. Grievances were filed against management, according to the grand jury, and employee complaints are handled internally, "and (are) not addressed by county Human Resources."
Management attended required communication classes "to improve communication skills between management and subordinates," the grand jury states.
The report also notes that the Board of Supervisors has no anti-bullying policy, which the grand jury says "would help alleviate low staff morale and productivity due to inappropriate or illegal management actions."
To reduce turnover and "potential legal liability," the grand jury recommends that MCDOT have Human Resources staff oversee the department's compliance with county policies regarding management of personnel.
Additionally, "management does not always prepare the Road Report; the California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) prepares this report for a fee," according to the report. The grand jury recommends that MCDOT management prepare the report instead.
The grand jury also recommends that the Board of Supervisors consider consolidating MCDOT management.
MCDOT Director Howard Dashiell declined to comment on the grand jury report Thursday, but said he is working on his responses, which are due in 60 days.
The grand jury also notes that MCDOT must meet tight timelines to establish emergency declarations and has had a hard time doing so because the Board of Supervisors has required "strict adherence to the agenda submittal process during times of emergency."
The grand jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors "return to the previous schedule of four meetings each month in order to avoid losing state and federal funds during declared disasters."
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_18390500
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