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Trinity County approves short-term contract for temporary DA services amid public questions; also approves consent calendar and small fire budget adjustment
Summary
The board approved an amendment to hire an attorney from Prentice Long PC to provide up-to-eight-week interim district-attorney services during the DA’s medical absence; the consent calendar passed with a noted typo fix and the board approved a $813 budget adjustment for the fire protection department.
The Trinity County Board of Supervisors on July 21 approved a short-term contract amendment to secure temporary district-attorney office support while the sitting district attorney is on medical leave.
The amendment (item D5) modifies the county-counsel professional services agreement with the law firm Prentice Long PC to add a senior prosecutor for up to eight weeks through September 2026. County Administrative Officer Trent explained the arrangement is limited in duration and that the county would be hiring the individual, not the firm, and that firm-level "firewalls" would be used to mitigate conflicts with county-counsel attorneys.
Public commenters raised concerns that using a private law firm could present a conflict or lead to extended use of outside counsel. Trent said neighboring counties were unable to provide assistance, internal DA office capacity is limited and the DA recommended an experienced prosecutor for continuity. After board discussion and public comment, the motion to approve D5 passed on a roll call with Supervisors Cox, Lutweiler, Goguen and Vice Chair Brownfield voting 'Aye.'
The board also approved the consent calendar (with a clerical correction to item D9 changing a start year from 2025 to 2026) and approved County matter E1: a budget adjustment increasing other charges for the fire protection department by $813 and decreasing contingency by $813.
In his report earlier, CAO Trent said department budget discussions concluded but a $4.1 million gap remains; he also reported that duplexers ordered June 4 for the county emergency communications system had been programmed and were being installed with anticipated completion the same day, and that additional radio equipment remains on order.
Votes on the consent items and D5 were recorded; in each roll call Supervisors Cox, Lutweiler, Goguen and Vice Chair Brownfield voted in favor.
