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Supervisors introduce ordinances to transition Kings County from CAO to CEO model and shift appointing authority
Summary
The board introduced four ordinances that would (if adopted) change the county’s management model from a county administrative officer (CAO) to a county executive officer (CEO) and move appointing authority for several department heads to the CEO; the items were introduced and will return for second reading.
The Kings County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 30 voted to introduce four separate ordinances that would change the county’s organizational management model and appointing authority if later adopted.
County counsel Mary presented four related ordinance introductions. The first would amend sections 2-23 through 2-39 of the Kings County Code to convert the county administrative officer (CAO) position into a county executive officer (CEO) role and delegate to that position authority to appoint most non-elected department heads. Mary said the change aims to “enhance communication and streamline operations” across county departments and noted Kings County last adopted its CAO ordinance in 1993.
Three additional ordinance introductions would change the appointing authority for specific positions from the board of supervisors to the CEO: the clerk of the board (ordinance amending section 2-2.1), the director of finance (section 2-94), and the surveyor/road commissioner (section 2-4.1). For each item Mary said the ordinance would take effect 30 days after board approval and be published as required.
Supervisors expressed support for the proposals during discussion and emphasized succession planning and operational efficiency. “It would be, I couldn't imagine have to stop my day and report to five people to get direction on something that has to happen,” Supervisor Rusty Robinson said in the discussion, in support of moving to the CEO model.
Each of the four ordinance introductions passed on the board’s vote; the actions were introductory only and will return for a second reading before final adoption.
Background: County staff noted that among California’s 58 counties, 38 use a CAO model, 17 use a CEO model and three use other models. The proposed ordinances would rename the position, update duties and delegate appointing authority for the listed department heads to the CEO. Staff said the board would publish a summary and post votes in the clerk’s office if the ordinances are later adopted.
Ending: The items were introduced and will be scheduled for second readings. If adopted, the ordinance summaries and votes will be published and the effective date would be 30 days after adoption.
