Amador County – During a special Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, many questions were raised about the plan for the 445 employees who will ultimately lose their jobs or be transferred as a result of the planned closure of Preston Youth Correctional Facility.

CDCR Undersecretary Scott Kernan said the closure is “a population and money issue” stemming from $39 million in cuts to the DJJ and a total of $1.4 billion in cuts to the CDCR by the state. He said “we only get resources for the (ward) population we have.” He said the area of layoff will be limited to Amador County, and the “details of reemployment won’t be realized until we sit down with the labor organizations.”

Chairman Brian Oneto asked about bumping rights, and if they will hold open positions specific to the surrounding area. Kernan said “employees will be able to take any vacancies throughout the department” and the “entire state system is currently on limited term.”

Hellan Roth Dowden, a representative of SEIU Local 1000, stood up in the audience to say “we want to let Kernan know that we want to increase the area of layoff to beyond Amador County.” Kernan said they will discuss this later.

Assemblymember Alyson Huber pushed for firm dates on employee layoffs, ward transfers and other closure procedures. She also asked: “What is the plan for all the staff if you just keep transferring wards to other academies?”

Kernan said they are balancing staff among the facilities and DJJ Chief Deputy Secretary Rachel Rios said “the timeframes we give you are fluid because there are certain notifications over time that staff are entitled to.” Neither official could provide definite dates for layoff procedures. Rios said the number of staff relates to ward population figures, and “all new commitants have stopped going into Preston.”

During public comment, Jerry Cassesi said Amador is “a much more depressed, small county” and this is “not the way to treat a community that has supported these facilities for many, many years and (generations).” He pointed out that Preston is on the Ione city seal. He said you could close a facility in Stockton “with essentially zero impact.”

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Amador County – An Amador City man was arrested Saturday, December 4th in Plymouth on six charges, including grand theft of a pistol and possession of stolen property.

Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan announced the arrest in a release Thursday. At about 1 pm last Saturday, a Sheriff’s deputy patrolling Plymouth stopped at the Shenandoah Village Mini Mart in the 17000 block of Village Drive.

The release said: “While pulling into the parking area, the deputy observed a person known to him as Trevor William Popovich, 38, of Amador City entering the business.” The deputy knew Popovich as a convicted felon currently on probation and subject to search and seizure by authorities.

The deputy entered the store and contacted Popovich, and a search of Popovich revealed that he had .22 caliber bullets in his front pocket.

As deputies began searching Popovich’s vehicle, they were contacted by a citizen. The citizen said that Popovich “observed the arrival of the patrol unit to the business and immediately went into the restroom.” The citizen said he “suspected Popovich may have attempted to conceal drugs in the restroom, so he checked the restroom after Popovich exited the business. The citizen reported finding a firearm concealed in the garbage can.

Upon checking the restroom, a .22 caliber revolver was located and recovered. The search of Popovich’s vehicle revealed a methamphetamine smoking pipe and marijuana.

Upon further investigation it was determined that Popovich had stolen the firearm from a family member. Popovich was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, grand theft of a firearm, possession of stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of probation.

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Amador County - Amador County Supervisors delayed approval Tuesday of an amended agreement with Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Hartmann, pending further specifications on grant funding and a comparison to the PHO contract for Calaveras County.

Chairman Brian Oneto, who signed and approved the third amendment to an original agreement with Hartmann from July 2009 during closed session, said he had “second thoughts” and asked to add the item to the regular agenda for full board discussion and approval.

The contract states Hartmann’s hours as PHO would change to 20 hours a week at $103 an hour for a total compensation of $8,240 a month.

Supervisors questioned the need for an increase from 7.5 hours per week as stated in the previous amended contract. They asked about on-call hours, which Hartmann said make up a large part of his duties.

Hartmann said a number of factors, most notably the current whooping cough epidemic, have increased his hours significantly.

Kristin Bengyel, Amador County Health Services Director, said California currently has the most whooping cough cases “in 60 years,” and the county also dealt with three times the average number of rattlesnake victims last summer.

Hartmann said part of the on-call issue is because “some of the other people who could potentially take calls here are union members.”

He said what changed his job the most were the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. “Before then we didn’t have concerns about communicable diseases, bioterrorism, or small pox,” he said. “Now there is significant instruction from (the government) to be prepared locally.”

Hartmann said he also spends “a significant amount of time” dealing with issues and cases at Mule Creek State Prison. He said there have been a number of “disease breakouts” there, and “if (the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) reimbursed us, it would be for a significant amount.”

Finally he said more work is necessary on his part because his department is “down on positions.”

Oneto asked if there was a “guarantee as far as getting emergency preparedness funds,” which pay for a large portion of health related services in the county. Bengyel said “there is no guarantee in any of the budget pictures occurring at the state level.”

Supervisors Richard Forster and Louis Boitano both questioned why Calaveras County’s PHO can manage with only 12 on-call hours a week. Hartmann was unsure.

Oneto said “we’re not questioning your integrity or ability – just the price.”

Forster motioned to continue approval of the contract to a later agenda and asked staff to acquire a copy of Calaveras County’s PHO contract and more specifics on state emergency funding. The motion was approved 5-0. Story by

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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency’s new board of directors selected its officers Thursday, and saluted outgoing President Bill Condrashoff and Vice President Debbie Dunn with resolutions.

The board selected its new leaders on recommendation of staff, naming District 3 Director Don Cooper as president and District 2 Director Gary Thomas as vice president.

The board also heard a brief update on its finances, which Finance Manager Mike Lee said is ahead of forecasts, of $730,000 to end October.

They voted 4-1 to not hire an outside consultant for an efficiency and agency organizational study, instead opting to have General Manager Gene Mancebo continue an internal study he had started. Mancebo said he was about one third of the way through interviewing employees about their tasks and time spent on work.

Several people spoke in support of keeping the reorganization and efficiency study in-house, including former Director Paul Scott, who said the board has expertise and a legal counsel, so “why send it out to sugar coat it?”

The board agreed to form an ad hoc committee, with new Directors Paul Molinelli Senior and Robert Manassero to work with Mancebo on revamping the internal organization agency. Thomas said he wanted to emphasize that the work was a high priority, noting that consultants had agreed to finish by February 1st.

Mancebo told the board they could reorganize the agency without a study, and enact layoffs, negotiate with workers, and make structural changes. He said that was not staff’s recommendation. His first recommendation was the external study, and his second recommendation was to do the study internally.

The external study was estimated to cost $18,300, with about 200 hours of work in a “transparent, open evaluation of the agency management,” Mancebo said, and it “shows the willingness of the agency to be reviewed.”

Manassero said he had an outside efficiency expert look at his company and it didn’t tell him anything he didn’t already know. Scott said he had seen 100 efficiency studies and never agreed with any of them.

Manassero said the agency by June 2011 expects to have a $387,000 cash problem, and spending $18,000 on a study kind of bothered him since they don’t have the money. He said with Mancebo’s 20 years’ experience at the AWA, the management knows best, and “each agency is its own animal.” He said the ad hoc committee also might be able to help with the efficiency study.

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Amador County - With the Holiday Season, there is traditionally an increase in the number of fraud attempts reported to the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. The Amador County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind all citizens in Amador County to protect themselves and their loved ones from these types of frauds.

On November 28th, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office received a report of suspicious circumstances where a citizen received a phone call that she thought was a phone scam. A male subject called and told her that he worked for UPS Special Delivery. The subject advised her that she was the monthly sweepstakes winner of $2.5 million and that he could deliver $55,000 cash in a black leather briefcase to her.

The caller asked her three questions: if she was American, if she was over 65, and if she had a valid California driver's license. The man said that, based on her answers, her tax obligation would be 1 percent of the total winnings, $25,000.

Fortunately, the citizen did not provide any personal identifying information to the caller, and instead contacted the Amador County Sheriff’s Office.

Seniors may be a special target of people who sell bogus products and services by telephone. Telemarketing scams often involve offers of free prizes, low-cost vitamins and health care products, and inexpensive vacations.

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Amador County – The Plymouth City Council today (December 9th) will swear in new Councilman-elect Peter Amoruso, and will bid farewell to Mayor Patricia Fordyce and Councilman Michael O’Meara.

Among its first decisions will be deciding on how to fill a vacancy on the council, and replacing its city manager.

Plymouth City Manager Dixon Flynn said he has submitted his resignation effective at the end of the year, but will actually work his last day next Thursday.

Flynn said Wednesday that he had notified the council of his resignation before Thanksgiving, and due to the short notice, recommended Finance Director Jeff Gardner to be appointed as interim city manager. He said the council could then look to a more permanent decision at a later date. Gardner said he would accept the appointment as interim city manager, if it was offered.

The Plymouth City Council today will consider an interim city manager contract in closed session at the end of its meeting, and would announce any actions taken after the closed session. The agenda includes discussion and possible approval of a resolution approving such a contract.

Flynn said Gardner has been with Plymouth for 25 years, and only City Clerk Gloria Stoddard and grant writer Terry Cox have longer tenures with the city. Flynn said he thought the city would benefit from Gardner’s experience with the city and knowledge issues the city faces.

Flynn said decided to step down at the end of his third year as city manager because he is short on energy, getting older, and his memory is fading. He said stress of impending big decisions was better left to the younger Gardner.

Flynn said big decisions ahead include the Highway 49 and Shenandoah Road intersection, and whether it will be signalized or a “roundabout.” Also, local developer Bob Reeder is seeking a development agreement. Reeder has nearly 500 equivalent dwelling units planned as part of two projects that would be annexed to the city, but the economy has left an overabundance of houses and a shortage of buyers.

The wastewater system must meet some conditions to finalize permitting, and a decision looms on the Arroyo Ditch.

Gardner said with the water pipeline completed, and the sewer renovation nearly done, the city for the first time in 25 years will be open to new development.

Flynn said he was working part-time as city manager, but inevitably, worries about the job and problems the city faces are on his mind 24-hours a day. He said Gardner would seek to be a full-time city manager.

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Amador County – Ione City Council welcomed three new members Tuesday, who all spoke in support of Preston Youth Correctional Facility.

They planned to attend Wednesday’s public hearing on Preston in Jackson, and urged City Manager Kim Kerr to try to schedule an additional public hearing on Preston at Evalyn Bishop Hall. Kerr said Corrections Secretary Matthew L. Cate “offered to have a hearing here,” and she encouraged them to seek that hearing, saying it would allow for more comments.

Wednesday’s hearing hosted by Amador County Supervisors and Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, was scheduled for two hours.

City Clerk Janice Traverso on Tuesday led the new Ione City Council members in their oaths of office. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham took over as acting mayor (due to David Plank’s absence for a medical procedure).

Councilman Ron Smylie said he would like to “keep Preston open in some capacity,” and a state bill is seeking to have the state “maintain youth facilities at least six months.” He said “the more meetings we have, the more we can tell them that we want to keep Preston open.”

Councilman Daniel Epperson said Amador County is “already sending our juveniles up to Tahoe,” and he asked if youths were “being better served at the county level than at the state level.”

Epperson asked if Kerr had “heard anything from Governor Brown.” Kerr said Brown attended a correctional officers’ association meeting Tuesday, and Huber has been talking to him about Preston. Kerr said the corrections secretary is going to have to resign with the exit of the Schwarzenegger administration.

Kerr said employees based on seniority may find positions by transfer. She said the Pine Grove facility gets 70 percent of its population from Preston, so they do not know if Pine Grove Camp will also close, or if it will be reprogrammed.

Kerr said “there are a lot of unanswered questions about whether Preston is the correct place to close.” Bonham said Preston is “top heavy” with 445 employees and 219 offenders because “they do not transfer in more offenders.” She asked why the state would close its best facility. Kerr said it was due to lawsuits.

Ione Planning Commissioner Mark Hopkins said his employer, San Joaquin County plans a reentry facility to share with Amador and Calaveras counties, but numbers for employees and inmates are unknown.

Hopkins said with its land use designation, he could see the state close Preston, let it sit, and then “come back, demolish it, and rebuild a new facility.” Councilman Lloyd Oneto said “that may happen, but it won’t happen tomorrow.”

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Amador County – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials stood behind their decision to close Preston Youth Correctional Facility, despite strong objections from those leading and attending a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors on Wednesday evening.

Amador County Supervisors, joined by 10th District Assemblymember Alyson Huber and Calaveras County Supervisor Steve Wilensky, took turns questioning Scott Kernan, CDCR undersecretary, and Rachael Rios, Chief Deputy Secretary of the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).

Huber said this meeting was called because the last public meeting in the tiny Ione City Hall was hastily noticed, and it is “important for people to have the opportunity to weigh in.” She criticized the CDCR for not discussing their options with the public before making their decision.

“I’m convinced that a facility has to close,” said Huber. “I’m not convinced that it is supposed to be Preston.” Huber said the decision requires more thorough analysis of “recidivism rates, graduation rates and…repurposing.”

Kernan said the closure is “a population and money issue” based on $39 million in cuts to the DJJ and a total of $1.4 billion in cuts to the CDCR by the state. He said “we only get resources for the (ward) population we have.”

He said his department will try and reemploy as many employees as possible, but “it would be disingenuous to say staff will not be laid off in this process.” He said the area of layoff will be limited to Amador County, and the “details of reemployment won’t be realized until we sit down with the labor organizations.”

Supervisor Louis Boitano asked if they “take into account surrounding areas” in their decision because “this will kill Amador County.” Kernan responded that with “1.4 billion in cuts, that pain is spread all over. In every one of our closures, we’ve heard the same things.” Boitano said he believes “big urban and suburban areas hurt a lot less.” Plasse said this is “the quintessential double-whammy for a county of this size…after the auto dealership closures.”

Supervisor John Plasse reiterated concerns about closing the “top-scoring” facility, referring to Preston’s 90.9 percent compliance rate with the consent decree issued in Farrell v. Cate, a lawsuit related to DJJ facility performance. Kernan said the decision “is not about performance,” to which Plasse replied: “I’m not inferring that it is; I’m saying it should be.”

Kernan said they are actually advertising approximately 45 limited term positions, but those are mostly for the Ventura correctional facility, where they have had trouble finding staff. Jerry Cassesi said that “if it is about the difficulty of staffing Ventura, I’ve got an answer for you - close Ventura.”

Kernan said that “despite the public comments – and we heard them loud and clear – this decision is standing.” He said the “new legislature certainly has the ability to change the course of this.”

Huber recently introduced Assembly Bill 8, which would halt the closure for six months. She encouraged the audience to write letters, and said she has to get “120 (legislators) up to speed.” She said the bill includes findings she feels are “incontrovertible.”

The closure would affect over 400 staff and 218 juvenile wards. If it goes forward, it will take place June 30, 2011.

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