District engineer urges board to disclose employee-survey results, clarify settlement transparency

Laura Kranzler, an air quality engineer with the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, told the board that "employee morale remains low" and that staff remain concerned about the loss of three employees in recent years and a perceived lack of accountability for managers involved in those situations.

Kranzler said the district held an in-house employee opinion survey that closed July 29 and asked the administrative services director to provide the board and staff "with a transparent summary of the findings, including the general themes and consensus reflected in the constructive comments and suggestions while protecting individual employees' confidentiality." She also asked for a promised continuous improvement meeting to be scheduled promptly and for a safe avenue for nonmanagement staff to provide input.

Kranzler asked how settlement agreements and legal fees involving district employees are paid and whether those amounts are subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act, noting concerns whether payouts are charged to district funds or covered by insurance and whether premium impacts appear in future budgets. "I respectfully ask the board to support greater transparency regarding the employee survey results," she said.

The public comment concluded with the clerk thanking Kranzler and the chair moving the meeting to the next agenda item. The board did not take immediate action on Kranzler's requests at this meeting; Kranzler's comments were recorded during the public-comment period.