Commission discusses dissolving To Casa advisory board as part of service‑model review

The commission discussed a proposal to dissolve the To Casa advisory board and revisit how the county oversees the program.

The chairman said he believes the advisory board “has probably already done what it was supposed to do at the beginning” and proposed dissolving the board as a first step toward reconsidering how To Casa is run. He indicated the goal is to “get these services back to the basics and get it fully functional and running.”

Why it matters: The advisory board has been a formal channel for community input on the program’s operations. Commissioners debating dissolution raised questions about preserving community input and whether the board’s recommendations were being heard or implemented under the current contractor model.

Commissioner Shelby asked whether dissolving the advisory board would eliminate valuable recommendations and community conversation. The chairman responded that the commission — as five elected officials with direct constituent responsibilities — could receive input directly and the county manager could implement changes; he also noted the advisory board’s independence may be limited if a contractor (HMS) operates the program.

Commissioner Stevens asked whether, if the advisory board is dissolved, the commission could still communicate directly with HMS’s governing board; commissioners said further discussion is needed and that future options could include different governance models, including a board of trustees similar to those for other county institutions. The manager said more detailed discussion would be scheduled so the commission can decide the preferred course.

No formal vote was taken at the work session; the item was placed on the regular meeting agenda for further discussion.