Blog note: this article references a recent grand jury report on the cemetery district.
Coachella Valley Public Cemetery District leaders will consider expanding its board of trustees, as per recommendations made in an investigation that was critical of the publicly funded agency.
The expansion will be discussed at 8 a.m. Tuesday during the board's regular meeting at 82-925 Avenue 52 in Coachella. Board members are expected to consider increasing the number of trustees from three to five.
Trustees are appointed to their positions by county supervisors, and they are paid $50 per meeting, which typically happen on a monthly basis. They oversee an area roughly bordered by Rancho Mirage to the west and Desert Center to the east.
The CVPCD is among 269 districts in California and among the largest in Southern California. It serves 400 families per year and covers 3,444 square miles in Riverside County.
The Riverside County Grand Jury recommended the expansion in a report that was publicly released more than a month ago following an extensive investigation into the cemetery district.
In addition to a board expansion, jurors recommended trustees and the general manager undergo training and mediation to resolve issues.
In addition, the grand jury suggested trustees establish a line of communication with the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and other officials. They're also calling for a full review of housing benefits and requiring rental agreements for staff living on the property.
Accusations of Brown Act violations were presented during the grand jury investigation, and the report specifically mentions a trustee's exclusion from meetings and untimely distributions of meeting agendas to board members.
June 11, 2018
The Desert Sun
By Colin Atagi
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