Lake County Board appoints members to multiple advisory panels; holds one staffing appointment

At its meeting, the Lake County Board of Supervisors appointed members to multiple advisory boards and held one nomination pending review of county policy.

The board approved appointments to the Big Valley Advisory Council, Cobb Municipal Advisory Council, First 5 Lake County, the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee (District 3 seat only), the Lake County Resource Conservation District, the Law Library Advisory Board and the Library Advisory Board. A nomination for the Fish and Wildlife education seat — a county employee applicant — was held for further review of board policy.

The appointments cover a mix of member-at-large and supervisorial-district seats. Supervisor Paiske moved to appoint Rick White to the Big Valley Advisory Council and Vice Chair Rasmussen seconded; the motion carried on a voice vote. The board appointed Paul Duncan (alternate), Christopher Nettles and Donald Strickler to the Cobb Municipal Advisory Council; Carolyn Rosen was appointed to First 5 Lake County. The board appointed Justin Ratcliffe to the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee’s District 3 seat and postponed action on Angela DePalma Dow’s application for the committee’s education seat after questions about appointing a county employee to a voting advisory position.

County counsel summarized the county’s advisory-board policy under Rule 4 and told the board that "in order to further community involvement in county government and to further the independence of advisory boards, it shall be the policy of the board of supervisors not to appoint county employees as voting members to those advisory boards, which are intended to consist of independent citizens and or community members." County counsel said staff could review the policy further and that it was within the board’s discretion to make an appointment now or delay it pending that review.

Board members said the concern was not the applicant’s qualifications but the precedent of appointing a county employee to a voting seat. One supervisor said, "It's more of are we looking for public members? Are we looking for staff members? Because that's a very different scenario," and urged caution about setting a new precedent.

For the Lake County Resource Conservation District, the board appointed Charles Barron and Steve Campbell to District 1 seats. The board also appointed Dennis Fordham to the Law Library Advisory Board and Paula Warner to a District 1 seat on the Library Advisory Board.

Votes at a glance

- Big Valley Advisory Council — Rick White appointed (motion by Supervisor Paiske; second by Vice Chair Rasmussen). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Cobb Municipal Advisory Council — Paul Duncan (alternate), Christopher Nettles and Donald Strickler (members). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - First 5 Lake County — Carolyn Rosen, member-at-large. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee — Justin Ratcliffe, District 3: approved (voice vote). Angela DePalma Dow, education seat: appointment held for further review of Rule 4 policy regarding county employees serving as voting members. - Lake County Resource Conservation District — Charles Barron and Steve Campbell, District 1 seats: approved (voice vote). - Law Library Advisory Board — Dennis Fordham: approved (voice vote). - Library Advisory Board — Paula Warner, District 1: approved (voice vote).

The board concluded the advisory-board appointment agenda item after completing the listed actions and setting one nomination aside for policy review. County staff indicated they would review Rule 4 and return with any needed clarification or recommendations to the board.