The Calaveras Board of Supervisors meetings are much more important than you may realize.  One of our members, Janet, has generously been taking detailed notes which gives you a chance to follow along.

This link is from the 8/17/21 special meeting.  If you’d like to see the actual meeting, a video is available through the County’s website.  If you’d like to download Janet’s notes, they can be found here:20210817-bos-meeting-notes

The notes include more of the discussion about various measures/ announcements.  It gives you a better appreciation of the work our Supervisors and County personnel do.

We’ve mainly included the detailed notes here from general interest items like the Public Health Updates.  We list all items on the agenda but often only include the initial paragraph from Janet’s notes.

This meeting had 2 consent items and two regular agenda items.  The regular agenda items were on County strategic planning and a discussion on the County’s telecommuting policy.  Am I the only person who found it amusing that Chairman Stopper recused himself via Zoom?  In any case, both items involved quite a bit of discussion not included here.  Please look through Janet’s (excellent) notes or review the video.

Public meeting called to order at 9:37 a.m.

Staff Announcements

Cori Allen – HHSA Director – yesterday we lost 3 individuals to Covid; 1 male in his 40s and 2 females in their 60s. There are things that the community can do to help in this pandemic to protect your household and community. Delta variant is much more aggressive and spreads easier. We all need to do what we can do to prevent the spread. Choose to mask and separate yourself from others regardless of whether you are vaccinated or not. If you have symptoms, stay home, call your doctor, and get tested. Those not fully vaccinated, you can choose to protect themselves by getting the vaccine, get tested, wear masks and keep their distance. We have expanded appointments for testing. Today and tomorrow at San Andreas Library from 9 a.m. to noon. Can go online to make an appointment,  call 754-6460, or visit the Calaveras Covid19 website. Sonora is testing from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Starting August 18, Sonora will move back to the fairgrounds and will be open daily.
• Michael Magana – Calaveras County Public Health – those with a weakened immune system which may include cancer, advanced HIV infection, getting treatments for steroids or those meds that will compromise immune system. the CDC recommends getting Pfizer or Moderna to get the additional dose/booster. Contact your doctor for information and confirmation. Will have to go through your pharmacy at this time. Delta variant is two times as contagious as previous variants and can cause severe illness in non-vaccinated people. Vaccinated people can get breakthrough cases but it will be less severe. Can visit MyTurn.CA.gov to make an appointment or walk-in clinics are available for the vaccine. Contact your doctor to see if the booster shot is something you should be getting. Calaveras  County is not providing booster at this time pending guidelines from the CA department of health.
• Robert Pachinger – Public Works – yesterday we released a bid for the construction of the Widen Hill project. It is in hands of the contractor. Bids are due September 23, 2021.
• Rebecca Turner – Registrar of Voters – ballots mailed out yesterday and can return by mail at any drop boxes or in-person voting. The complete list is located with your ballot or you can call toll-free 833-536-8683.

General Public Comments • None

Consent Agenda

3. Action Item – Probation (ID # 6236) Authorize the Board Chair to sign the Motherlode
Regional Juvenile Detention Facility MOU Amendment #2, extending the agreement for
an additional year (term ending June 30, 2022).

4. Agreement – Behavioral Health Services – Mental Health Program (ID # 6244) Authorize the Director of the Health and Human Services Agency or designee to 1) apply for the Crisis Care Mobile Units Program, Track 1 Planning Grant funding; 2) sign and submit the required documentation to apply for said grant funding, resulting in revenue in an amount not to exceed $200,000 for the period of September 15, 2021 through February 14, 2023; and 3) execute any and all documentation required to receive said funding, including subsequent amendments, if any.

Motion to approve consent agenda items 3 and 4 – Passed 5 – 0.

Regular Agenda

5. Action Item – Administrative Office (ID # 6257) 1) Receive a Presentation on Strategic
Planning, and 2) direct the County Administrative Officer to negotiate an agreement with
the Municipal Resource Group for third-party facilitator and strategic planning consulting
services.

• Christa Von Lotta – CAO – overview re strategic planning – made priority for this calendar year and created a committee that has been meeting monthly since March. Hoping to move forward with the third party.
• Pat Blacklock – President/CEO of RCRC – Presented PowerPoint presentation. Please review for detailed information. We do strategic planning to provide direction. Much is mandated but there is some discretion and the strategic plan helps provide direction and a good financial reason to make the organization run more smoothly, no alignment in absence of strategic plan.
• Public Comments • None
Motion to approve – Passed 4 – 1.

6. Action Item – Human Resources (ID # 6256) Discuss and provide recommendations on a Countywide Telecommute Policy.

Chair Stopper recused himself via zoom.
• Judy Hawkins – Director HR and Risk Management – countywide policy to provide discussion and recommendations. Back in March 2020, we put out a lot of emergency policies regarding social distancing to prevent Covid; put out an interim telecommute policy which was beneficial and was a requirement for a permanent telecommute policy and provides for reasonable accommodation and guidelines. Policy does allow for departments to make it specific to their department; policy is not written extremely specific as a general guideline. Important to have mechanics have conversations with employees if their position could be done via telecommuting or not.
• Public Comments • None
No motion is needed because this is an information item only. Consensus by BOS it will be brought back as an action item.

Supervisor Announcements

Supervisor Callaway – Going on a tour of Tuolumne County Animal Shelter this week.  Last Saturday Public Works had a  meeting on the Blagdon Road replacement.  A very good project presentation was made and they answered all questions and concerns.