Mendocino County supervisors elect leadership, approve hires and calendar at organizational meeting

Mendocino County’s Board of Supervisors opened its Jan. 6 organizational meeting by electing Supervisor Norville as chair and Supervisor Williams as vice chair for 2026, a nomination and roll-call vote that passed unanimously.

The board then received informational reports and took routine organizational actions. Human resources director Sherry Johnson said the county’s health officer recruitment was relaunched after a prior candidate declined an offer; five applicants have applied and staff plan screening in February with a candidate expected to be brought to the board by Feb. 24. Denise Parker, director of social services, requested a full-time Community Health Service Specialist I and an extra-help specialist tied to CalAIM and Medi‑Cal grant funding; Parker said the positions would not affect the county general fund. The board approved the hiring request unanimously after staff confirmed grant funding and a June 30 end date for the extra-help post.

Separately, while convened as the Mendocino County Air Quality Management District, the board adopted a resolution (C14) to add one full-time staff assistant (Air Quality budget unit 0327) at the salary ranges listed in the item. Supervisor Williams moved approval and the directors adopted the change on a unanimous roll call.

The board also adopted its 2026 master meeting calendar and approved appointments to standing committees and special assignments based on the incoming chair’s recommendations. When votes were taken the board routinely used roll call; where a motion required further discussion the item was pulled for separate consideration and voted on later in the agenda.

The meeting recessed to closed session at about 10:48 a.m. and planned to reconvene no sooner than 11:25 a.m.