Amador County – Multiple residents questioned the Amador County Board of Supervisors at its meeting Tuesday, asking about its contract with the Public Health Officer, eventually causing staff to caution against violating the Brown Act.
Speaking during “Public matters not on the agenda,” a public comment period, many of the speakers addressed the contract extension approval of Dr. Robert Hartmann, and asked about a “Request For Proposals” for his Public Health Officer position.
Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said the position of Health Officer is one of several types of “professional services” for which county policy requires they go out for a Request For Proposals (RFP) every three years. Plasse said Hartmann has been working on 1-year contracts, renewed annually, for the last 12 years, and no RFPs have been made.
The latest contract sought a 37.5 percent raise for Hartmann, and Supervisors compromised, and approved an 18.5 percent raise for Hartmann. They approved the contract through the end of this fiscal year, ending in June. Plasse said it was hard for Supervisors to justify a nearly 40 percent raise when the rest of the county’s employees were being asked to take pay decreases.
One man asked when Hartmann was notified about the preparation of a Request For Proposals were going out.
County Administrative Officer Chuck Iley said the RFPs are not going out. He said he notified Hartmann a week previously that “we have been putting together an RFP” but they are not negotiating yet with Hartmann. He said he has regular contact with Hartmann.
Plasse said: “There’s been a lot of publicity and that has not been our doing.”
One man asked if Hartmann was “going to be given the first right of refusal before you go out for RFPs.” Plasse said Hartmann would get first right of refusal. He also said Requests For Proposals for professional services were not the same as a taking bids. The county would not be obligated to take the lowest bidder but could choose the proposal it considered best for the county.
County Counsel Martha J. Shaver said the discussion was “getting beyond the limits of the Brown Act,” and advised that proper discussion would be a “brief comment,” because the matter was not listed on the agenda.
Supervisor Brian Oneto, answering comments, said he had received no correspondence from Hartmann. He also repeated his reason for a “motion to reconsider” on Hartmann’s initial contract approval, saying: “I did not want my name on a 37 percent increase.”
Former Jackson Mayor Rosalie Pryor Escamilla said she did not think the Health Officer position was “on par with paving or construction,” and “an item this important needs to be placed on an agenda.”
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
