By Catherine Bowen / The Reporter
Posted: 05/03/2011 01:07:51 AM PDT
The Solano County grand jury is calling for some changes to the way the Sheriff's Office conducts business in a report detailing the department's practices that was released Monday.
Following the grand jury's audit, which included inspections of the Solano County main jail and Claybank Detention Facility, the 13-page report zeroed in on the need for more internal controls, especially when it comes to the competitive bidding process, funding for the Victim Notification Program (VINE), and documenting payment for inmate commissary services.
Solano County Sheriff Gary Stanton said he agreed with the grand jury's findings regarding the purchase and contracting policy, but disagreed on their recommendation.
"Basically they're faulting me for following policy," he said.
Under Solano County's current purchasing policy, Stanton said he is allowed two one-year renewals for vendors -- something he has been adhering to. Stanton said that before a vendor is hired, the department competitively shops for the best prices and, if the vendor's services are satisfactory, they are often re-contracted.
"We do the background work," Stanton said. "The grand jury, I don't think, thinks that we're checking (but) we are."
Yearly checks, Stanton said, are "a waste of taxpayer money and we try to avoid that."
He then added that making changes are always expensive and an unnecessary financial burden. Rather than taking competitive bids at the end of each year, Stanton said prices can easily be checked just by asking different vendors, which he said, the department does.
Stanton went on to say that if the department had a vendor and they find they are charging more than competitors, the department would end the contract early.
Still, Stanton said that it would "not be a bad idea to look at the pricing policy," but that it is something that should be taken up with the county, not the Sheriff's Office.
The other two areas where the grand jury took issue with the Sheriff's Office involved documentation of iCare commissions and funding for VINE, which currently comes out of the Inmate Welfare Fund.
A web-based commissary service, iCare allows the family and friends of inmates to order items for them online.
Stanton said he disagrees with the recommendation to require payment to go through services such as PayPal and that by contacting the company, the department can be provided with the same raw data necessary to reconcile the dollar amount of what is being purchased.
Under the grand jury's recommendation, Stanton said family members would be forced into a situation that may not be readily available to them or may be inconvenient.
VINE, the final point of contention, is funded by the Inmate Welfare Fund, something Stanton said he is allowed to do by law, but that the grand jury said did not fall within the programs the fund covers.
Stanton went on to say that, although he disagrees with the grand jury's finding in this instance, he plans on doing what he can to follow their recommendation.
"Their interpretation is wrong but I think their intentions are right,"
he said.
Stanton said he hopes to add funding for the program to the 2012-13 budget, so that it would be funded by the county rather than being taken from the Inmate Welfare Fund.
The report ended with the grand jury recognizing the Sheriff's Office for their cooperation and innovative changes made during a time of cutbacks. The grand jury went on to say that Stanton is operating both jails in an "effective and efficient manner" despite being forced to deal with the largest funding and personnel cuts to any department in the county.
Stanton said that by and large, he felt the report was positive and appreciated the recognition his department received.
"We have an excellent relationship with the grand jury and this should work out very well," Stanton said.
http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_17980853
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