Tehama supervisors approve personnel-rule clarifications, table code-of-conduct enforcement for elected officials

The Tehama County Board of Supervisors voted April 21 to adopt clarifying revisions to the county personnel rules and general provisions while tabling a contentious portion of the proposed code of conduct that would address enforcement for elected officials.

Personnel Director Coral Farrin told the board the changes respond to a grand-jury recommendation to make clear which personnel rules apply to elected and appointed officials and to add language confirming that county rules do not supersede state or federal law or collective-bargaining agreements. Farrin said the revisions categorize rules into three application groups and add cleanup language to the code of conduct.

Supervisor discussion focused on whether disciplinary provisions can apply to elected officials, who answer to voters and to the grand jury rather than an internal supervisor-driven discipline process. Supervisor Hansen and others urged an "off ramp" for persistent harassment by members of the public and proposed text to send persistent or egregious matters to the grand jury as the formal oversight mechanism for elected officials.

The board approved the personnel-rule clarifications (motion moved by Jones and seconded by Zane). On the revision to the general provisions and personnel rules the roll call showed Supervisor Burrows abstained; other supervisors voted yes. For the code-of-conduct enforcement language the board agreed to table that portion and asked staff to return with revised verbiage after the personnel committee meets; a motion to table was approved with all supervisors voting yes.

Coral Farrin said she will take the suggested amendments back to the personnel committee and return with language spelling out the disciplinary off-ramps and the role of the grand jury where appropriate. The board set a committee meeting date and directed staff to bring proposed changes to a future meeting.

Ending: The board approved the clarifying personnel-rule changes and instructed staff to draft and return improved language on consequences and referral steps for elected-official conduct by June 8 committee meeting.