Tulare supervisors vote to return Tulare Public Cemetery District to independent trustees

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on April 21 to divest itself of its authority to serve as the Tulare Public Cemetery District’s board of trustees, moving the district toward governance by an independent, appointed trustee board.

County analysts Diana Montes and Robert Hernandez told the board the county stepped in after all previous trustees resigned and the district faced potential insurance termination. Since coming under county oversight, staff said the district has strengthened administrative controls, implemented formal policies and training, improved safety protocols and retained a new district manager, Toby Barton, who the presentation credited with helping to stabilize operations.

Montes cited California Health and Safety Code section 9026 as the statute that authorizes both the board’s appointment of trustees and the divestiture process. The board explained options under the law, including a required protest period; clerk staff reported no valid written protests had been filed and that fewer than 10% of registered voters of the district submitted protests.

One member of the public, Vicky Gillson, spoke in support of returning the district to independent trustees and recounted earlier difficulties the district experienced when previous managers and trustees left. "This is a very positive step forward," Gillson said, and urged the board to continue transparent oversight during the transition.

Supervisor Mccari moved to adopt Option A (divest and proceed to appoint trustees once three trustees can be appointed); Supervisor Townsen seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The board established an ad hoc review committee to evaluate trustee applications and directed staff to return on May 5 with recommendations for appointments.

The board directed county counsel to draft a resolution consistent with today’s action. The clerk recorded the vote and closed the public hearing.