Sentinel Staff Report
Posted: 01/22/2009 01:30:08 AM PST
Responses to the Santa Cruz County grand jury report were made public this week, and jury foreman Clyde Vaughn said the government agencies critiqued in the report offered a variety of comment.
The agencies adopted many of the reforms advocated by the grand jury, Vaughn said, while other recommendations were put off because of funding or legal issues, while others were rejected completely.
At the grand jury's urging, the county of Santa Cruz added a whistle blower link to its Web site so employees can more easily report personnel problems.
The Sheriff's Office responded to grand jury concerns about overcrowding at County Jail by saying a committee has been established to reduce overcrowding. However, the Sheriff's Office said it did not have the money to expand and update kitchen facilities, as recommended by the grand jury.
The county Planning Department has implemented a new data system to better track and record code enforcement data, which the grand jury had said contained inaccuracies.
The Watsonville Library committed to trying to expand staffing, but could not implement all of the suggestions of the grand jury, like maintaining better security, because of finances.
The grand jury is an all-volunteer group that investigates a handful of government issues each year and makes recommendations for improvement. The agencies cited in the report must address the recommendations, but are not obliged to implement them.
The complete responses to the latest report, released last summer, will be posted online Monday. They will be available at www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/grandjury
http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_11523831?nclick_check=1
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