Grand jury praises, criticizes

County ambulance pact, Measure H oversight are faulted

BY JACK FOLEY • The Salinas Californian • January 13, 2009

From Hartnell College to county-funded ambulance service, the 2008 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury's final report is a mix of kudos, criticism and counsel.

The report was issued Monday by Grand Jury Foreman Bruce J. Obbink. Here are some of the grand jury's findings relative to local public institutions:
--The oversight committee for Measure H, the Hartnell College bond issue passed in 2002, has not functioned in the best interest of the voters.
--The Monterey County Board of Supervisors inappropriately interfered in the management of its (ambulance) contractor, WestMed.
--The Monterey County Youth Center is not certain if its treatment program has been effective and needs to develop an evaluative criteria and tracking system.
--The jury issued a commendation for the Pacific Grove Middle School "Dot" program and encourages other county school districts to look into adopting it.
--Recommends that Monterey County take an aggressive approach to acquire funds from the Local Youthful Offender Rehabilitative Facility Construction Funding Program to replace juvenile hall.
--Commends the Carmel and Monterey emergency management leaders for activating their Emergency Operations Centers during the Jan. 4, 2008, storm and its aftermath.


http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20090113/NEWS01/90113019