Board upholds sheriff’s demotion after closed-session vote

County Counsel reported that, following a closed-session public employment matter on Feb. 10, the Colusa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to reject an arbitrator’s recommendation and to uphold the Sheriff’s imposition of a demotion.

The board considered an item listed under Government Code §54957(b) concerning public employee discipline. County Counsel reported the outcome to the public at the reconvened session; the record shows the board voted unanimously to "not follow the recommendation of the arbitrator and to uphold the decision of the Sheriff imposing a demotion." No additional details about the employee, the specific charges, or the arbitrator’s recommendation were included in the public report.

The matter was listed on the meeting agenda as a closed-session item and was handled under the statutory procedures for closed sessions. The transcript records only the counsel’s public report of the board’s decision; the board did not provide further comment on the public record at reconvening.

By law, personnel deliberations and evidentiary matters were conducted in closed session; the public record reflects only the board’s final vote as reported by County Counsel.