Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environmental Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves moving Environmental Health into Public Health; one supervisor votes no over pay differential
Summary
The Board voted 4-1 to adopt changes that integrate Environmental Health into the Public Health Department and add a small pay differential for a deputy director with required certification; Vice President Sylvia Arenas opposed the move citing equity concerns.
The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve reorganizing the county's Environmental Health branch into the Public Health Department and to add a certification-based pay differential for a deputy director who would oversee environmental health work.
Supporters said the change implements a 2022 policy decision and an ordinance adopted last year to integrate environmental health services and that the small differential recognizes a state-required certification needed for public-health oversight of environmental programs.
County Executive James Williams said the shift is an implementation step following prior board direction and emphasized that environmental-health fees will remain restricted by state law. "Those fees have to be used for designated purposes," he said during board discussion.
Vice President Sylvia Arenas voted "no," saying she opposed the narrow salary increase for one deputy director in the context of broader workforce strain. She said she was uncomfortable approving a pay differential that would leave other deputy directors at the same level without similar increases. Her comments focused on perceived equity implications for other county managerial staff.
Board members who supported the measure said the role requires a special state certification and that the differential reflects the difference in duties and statutory responsibilities.
The motion to approve Items 46 and 47 passed with a 4-1 vote; the clerk recorded votes and the board moved the items to the end of the agenda for discussion earlier in the meeting.
The board asked administration to provide additional information on how environmental health fees are used and to return for any follow-ups; staff said that environmental health remains about 94% fee-funded and will continue to be separately accounted under constitutional restrictions.
The vote on the reorganization was recorded as: Abe-Koga yes; Duong yes; Ellenberg yes; Arenas no; President Lee yes.
Officials said they will return with further budget details if needed.
