Friday, Jul 2 2010, 6:59 pm
By Rick Longley/Tri-County Newspapers
The 2009-10 Final Grand Jury Report was issued Wednesday with investigations into familiar topics such as the Human Resource Agency's reform efforts and a look at the Glenn County Jail and Jane Hahn Juvenile Hall.
New issues included the Glenn County Landfill, Glenn County code enforcement, the roads division of the Public Works Department and a complaint about unreturned guns from the sheriff's office.
There also are chapters on Department of Finance and the Glenn County Personnel Office in the report.
The jury's HRA findings conclude new HRA Director Scott Gruendl seems to have addressed the issues of a "hostle work environment" reviewed by the 2008-09 grand jury.
Gruendl replaced former HRA Director Kim Gaghagen following his retirement in 2009, and apparently changed the work environment to include programs aimed at stopping perceived harassment and opening communications.
He and his staff have developed teamwork training programs with department employees at all seniority and staff levels, the jury report said.
They added Gruendl has an open-door policy that appears to have had a positive impact on the employees and relationships within the department.
Gruendl reportedly has examined the hiring and promotion of new employees and is making sure the practices conform with the employee handbook and procedure manual, jurors said.
During the 2008-09 investigation, allegations surfaced that employees were given promotions and hired without following policy guidelines.
A deputy director's position also was reviewed by the 2008-09 grand jury following allegations the person who held the post had harassed others.
That employee left on medical leave and later resigned. The position is now eliminated, and Gruendl is restructuring the department since he is director of both the HRA and the Health Services Agency.
Audits of the agency's books are done regularly by HRA staff and outside auditors, HRA officials say, but the grand jury committee did not see any of the audits.
The current report commends Griuendl and his staff for creating a healthier work environment and notes he is working to bring the Health Services Agency under the umbrella of the HRA since they will have a single director.
Jurors recommend the Human Resource Agency continue its employee programs initiated within the last year, keep the open door policy available and make sure all practices are followed in the employee handbooks in the future. Audits also should be made available for viewing upon request.
"I am very pleased with the Grand jury's follow-up," Gruendl said Thursday. "They came to meet with me on their own and interviewed a couple of employees on their own."
The previous jury's report was extremely critical of the HRA, he said, so it is nice the opinion is now more positive.
"I agree with the recommendations," Gruendl added. "It is testimony to our ongoing efforts to make things better, and the jury sees that. It is an affirmation we are doing the right thing."
As for the Glenn County Jail, the jurors toured the facility in November 2009 and met with Sheriff Larry Jones and his staff.
They found the facility was well run and clean, the sheriff and his staff behaved in a professional manner and the kitchen was well organized and provided nutritious meals to inmates.
A new medical contract with California Forensic Medical Group also is providing stable medical services to inmates, the report said.
Jones reportedly expressed concerns about staffing levels since the often fall short on days when jail personnel are out on disability or causes, and lack of funding makes it difficult to keep enough staff for efficient operations there, according to the report.
Air conditioning units also still need to be replaced as noted in the previous 2008-09 grand jury's report and another safety cell is needed.
The current report commends Jones and his staff for their efforts to control costs and "provide outstanding service to the citizens of Glenn County."
It also recommends keeping staffing levels compliant with California State Detention Facility Standards and the air conditioning unit be updated.
Jones and Gruendl have 60 days to respond to this report while the Board of Supervisors has 90 days.
Copies of the report are available online through the county Web site or may be requested at the Glenn County Court House on West Sycamore Street in Willows.
Contact Rick Longley at 934-6800 or rlongley@tcnpress.com.
http://www.orland-press-register.com/news/jury-5735-report-gruendl.html
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