Supervisors move to clean up county email distribution lists after communication lapses

The Board of Supervisors reviewed the county’s department head and elected‑official email distribution lists after several employees reported learning of a recent closure on Twitter rather than through official email.

County communications staff and supervisors said the county maintains a large DHEO (department head and elected officials) distribution list of about 60 recipients — roughly 10% of the workforce — and said that some messages that belong at the leadership level have been routed to broad lists. Supervisors and communications staff discussed creating narrower distribution lanes: a leadership list for department heads and their second‑in‑command, an emergency distribution list, and retaining the broader staff list for general notices.

Participants suggested several steps to reduce confusion: ask departments to confirm that their second and third contacts are included, create a separate emergency/leadership list, and use blind copy when emailing the five supervisors so replies do not create a serial record of deliberation. Staff said they will work with IT to reconcile multiple existing lists and remove staff who do not meet the list descriptions. No formal vote was taken; staff will return with updated list options and suggested training for list owners.