(Marin Co) County boosts volunteer program staff

By Nels Johnson, Marin Independent Journal -

County officials will hire a human resources assistant to help two staffers overseeing the Civic Center's popular volunteers program.

The move, in accord with a recommendation by the civil grand jury in June, in effect reverses budget cuts made a year ago and will fund this year's program at $305,000, up from $231,000 in fiscal 2011-12. In fiscal 2009-10, the program was budgeted at $297,000.

The program last year provided county departments with 241,000 volunteer service hours that officials valued at $10 million.

"The costs associated with facilitating the work of volunteers are a good investment which reaps benefits far beyond the expense," human resources chief Joanne Peterson said. "The volunteer program has a long history of connecting those willing to freely give their time and talent in a way that makes a difference in their community," she added.

"We have meaningful volunteer opportunities and community members who are excited to fill those roles," Peterson noted.

She said the addition of a personnel assistant brings the staff to three people, providing "support recommended by the grand jury." One analyst will focus on volunteers, another on interns, and a third will help with both.

Following the retirement of longtime volunteer chief Joan Brown two years ago, staff was reorganized, prompting the grand jury to take a look amid complaints the program had lost a "personal touch" that directed citizens to appropriate roles. The panel concluded that efforts to streamline the program were misguided, especially when a surge of baby boomers will swell the ranks of volunteers at a time county cutbacks open up new opportunities for helping hands.

In general, the jury said in a report called "Civic Center Volunteers Program: The Goose that Lays the Golden Eggs," that a limited budget prompted efficiencies that threaten the vitality of a program well worth funding.

The jury's report received a mixed review from County Administrator Matthew Hymel, who said at the time that "although we may not agree with all the grand jury's recommendations, we agree that additional investments should be considered to enhance the program."

Hymel called the volunteer program "a key strategy to help us adapt to declining resources ... it is an extremely beneficial and important program."

Several grand jury suggestions, including a proposal that a senior volunteer staffer be given management clout, are not part of the latest program shuffle, which was routinely approved without discussion by county supervisors recently.

Brown lauded officials for restoring staff. "I'm deeply grateful the Board of Supervisors, which has demonstrated unwavering support for Civic Center Volunteers from its inception, continues to recognize it absolutely vital in these tough economic times and is a tremendous partnership between county government and its residents."

The volunteer program, an innovative project launched by then-Supervisor Barbara Boxer following Proposition 13 budget cuts in 1978 at suggestion of the late taxpayers' advocate Mona Versi, was headed from its inception by Brown, a vibrant, energetic official who made it a national model.