HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11081983 - T.4 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on November 8, 1983 , by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Fanden, McPeak, .Torlakson, Schroder
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT: Proposed -Reductions in Health Services Department
Nursing Staff
In a November 3, 1983, memorandum transmitted by the
County Administator to the Board, Arnold S. Leff, M.D. , Health
Services Director requested approval of a layoff plan to implement
reductions and variable nurse staffing assignments in order to align
staffing needs to service demand in the County Hospital. He indi-
cated that the proposed reductions and realignments could save the
Department an estimated $83, 000 per month and are necessary to ease
current fiscal demands as a result of the deficit.
In reply to Supervisor McPeak' s question, Dr. Leff advised
that the present proposal includes only nursing staff. A complete
list of reductions in other classifications, including management
and administrative staff, would be presented to the Board on
November 29, 1983. He explained that as the patient population
requires additional nursing staff, it is his intention to call nur-
ses having permanent-intermittent status to work prior to calling
the Nurses' Registry.
Supervisor T. Torlakson questioned Dr. Leff as to the
final figures of the deficit. Dr. Leff replied that the County
Administrator and Auditor are still reviewing the financial records
at the hospital. He indicated that there were many uncertainties
regarding revenue projections precluding him from making any assump-
tions as to what the deficit could be at the end of the 1983-1984
fiscal year.
Since many persons indicated a desire to speak, the
Chairman recognized the following persons who spoke in opposition to
the proposed staff cuts:
Henry L. Clarke, General Manager, Contra Costa Employees
Association, Local I;
Amy Hjortsuancy, R.N. , 11 Hilltop Drive, Martinez;
Penny Holland, graduate student working, in the Emergency
Room at the County Hospital, 5333 Park Highlands, #43,
Concord;
Sonja Passley, 487 R Canal Road, Pittsburg;
Elizabeth McKenzie, R.N. , 539 Osborn Land, Pleasant Hill;
Reith Alexander, R.N. , 3280 Withers Avenue, Lafayette;
Kay Schaefer, R.N. , 2332 Minaret Drive, Martinez;
Eva Strazzabosco, R.N. , Instructor at the Hospital,
108 Thistle Way, Martinez;
Jeffrey Smith, M.D. , 509 Arch Street, Martinez;
282
Donna Casey Gerber, California Nurses Association,
1615 Broadway, Oakland;
Virginia Morrison, R.N. , 155 Thistle Way, Martinez;
Deborah Umpingco, Hospital Attendant, 1880 Clayton Way,
Concord;
Nancy McCormack, R.N. , 3211 Elmquist Court, Martinez; ,
Lee Finney, the Coalition for Comparable Worth,
3431 MacDonald Avenue, Richmond;
All persons desiring to speak were heard. Supervisor
Torlakson. commented on the questions raised by the various speakers
with respect to liability, patient care, use of Registry Nurses,
etc, , and requested information on these issues prior to the
November 29, 1983, Board meeting. He also referred to the $5
million in the Reserve for Contingencies and noted that the longer
it takes to reach a decision on program/staff reductions, the
greater the impact on the Contingency fund.
On motion of Supervisor Powers, seconded by Supervisor
Torlakson, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the decision on the pro-
posed nursing staff reductions is DEFERRED to November 29, 1983.
In commenting on the deficit in the Health Services
Department budget, Supervisor Fanden suggested that the Board
contract with an independent firm to audit the financial records of
said Department so that a more valid projection can be made in time
to implement necessary cost saving measures. Supervisor McPeak con-
curred and proposed that the audit cover the first quarter of the
current fiscal year.
There being no further discussion, IT IS BY THE BOARD
ORDERED that the Grand Jury is REQUESTED to engage the firm of
Peak, Marwick, and Mitchell to audit the financial records of the
Health Services Department for the first quarter of the 1983-1984
fiscal year .
1 hereby certify that this is a tr^se a nd correct copy of
an action ea.�trz rnd mLn,:d a-i Vic mArutes of the
cc: Grand Jury 01 : .,.,
Health Services Director �' ✓�
County Administrator
County Counsel
Personnel Director
By Deputy
283
At 1; 20 p .m. the Board recessed to meet in Closed
Session in Room B-11, County Administration Building,
Martinez, CA to discuss labor negotiations .
At 2; 55 p .m. the Board reconvened in its Chambers
and proceeded with the scheduled hearings .
284