HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10181983 - 2.1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
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FROM: M. G. Wi ngett, County Administrator �Q(`�s+a
DATE: October 12, 1983 `. Coul� t-/
SUBJECT: Complaint of Harry Gatts Re: Social Service Department
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
The County Administrator recommends that the Board of Supervisors accept this report
as the response to its August 16, 1983 Order requesting the County Administrator to
investigate and report on the allegations of Harry W. Gatts regarding his AFDC payments,
and also to determine whether .he may be eligible for emergency food and shelter funds.
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
Mr. Harry W. Gatts, in a series of letters to the Board, made various charges against
the Social Service Department regarding the handling of his AFDC payments and the result-
ing difficulties caused Mr. Gatts. While some of the allegations were unfounded, those
that were accurate were corrected by Social Services. Financial assistance was provided
to mitigate the housing problems compounded by the County's errors. The Department
will waive policy and mail AFDC warrants and related correspondence to Mr. Gatts' post
office box pending stabilization of his housing situation. These actions should resolve
Mr. Gatts' concerns.
Apparently, a basic problem in the administration of Mr. Gatts' case had been that most
of the contact between client and worker occurred in writing. Notice of Action letters,
designed by the State to meet legal requirements imposed by the courts, too often
appear insensitive to the client' s basic and real problems. The image which Mr. Gatts
formed of his various workers was based on such letters and he responded in kind with
his own written "notices".
To facilitate better communication between Mr. Gatts and the Department, and to give
both client and staff a fresh start, his case has been reassigned and a conference will
be scheduled soon. (A conference scheduled for September 26, 1983 was postponed due
to Mr. Gatts' illness). By taking these actions, the Department feels the inadequate
pattern of communication which has evolved in this case can be broken, and that
Mr. Gatts' AFDC case can be more smoothly administered.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: &&.46// . Zyj& O�
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S) L
. v
ACTION OF BOARD ON C er , APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS ( 308
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISOR I� DATE SHOWN. a
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED �lhi
County Welfare Director J.R. OLSSON, COUNTY CLERK
AND EX OFFICIO CLERK OF THE BOARD
M3e2/7-e3 BY DEPUTY