HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11271990 - 1.146 l
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on November 27 , 1990 , by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson, Fanden
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT: Social Services Management Positions
The Board received a letter dated November 2 , 1990 from
Randy Johnese, Senior Field Representative, SEIU Local 535, 661 -
27th Street, Oakland 94612, regarding proposed increases in Social
Services Department management and administrative staff, and
requesting an opportunity to address the Board on this matter.
Randy Johnese appeared before the Board on behalf of
SEIU Local 535 and stated his organization' s concern about the
proposed increases in management and administrative staff in light
of the recent reductions in line staff and services to the public.
James Rydingsword, Social Services Director, submitted
the attached report dated November 21 , 1990 and advised that the
increase in management functions is necessary to sustain and
continue to improve operations within his department.
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Board members being in agreement, IT IS ORDERED that
receipt of letter from SEIU Local 535 and the report from the
Social Services Director is ACKNOWLEDGED.
cc: SEIU Local 535
Social Services Director I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of
an action taken end entered on the minutes of the
County Administrator Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: a?7, /990
PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk of the Board
of Supervisors and County Administrator
ey .. .Deputy
NOV - :21 - '90 W ED 17 : 4 :2 SOCIAL SERV ICE DEPT P . 02
SOMAL. SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
To: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator DATE: Nov. 21, 1990
From: James Rydingsword, Directorcc: Board of Supervisors
Executive Team
Harry Cisterman
Subject: Department Management positions
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It is my understanding that SEIU Local. 535 representatives
plan to speak to the Board of Supervisors at its November 27
meeting concerning matters raised in their attached November 2
letter. I would like to brief you and the Board concerning these
specific issues, and to place them in context of the Department's
overall management responsibilities.
Although this Department suffered from some staffing layoffs
earlier this year, the continued trend has been a significant
increase in the number of line staff serving clients in the
District offices. overall numbers of line staff reporting to mid-
managers have increased by 75% from 521 in 1986 to 914 through
October 30. During that same period, there have been two
administrative reorganizations eliminating levels of managers, and
no net increase of managerial staff. The Division Manager span of
control is now averaging approximately 57 to each manager, or
an increase of 140% during the same period. The increase in line
staff has been. accomplished in an era during which the Board of
Supervisors has provided no County General Fund increase to this
Department in 5 years. I strongly believe that some proportional
increase to critical management ,functions is necessary to sustain
and continue to improve operations with larger staff sizes.
To support and maximize efficiency of this increased line
staff, it is critically necessary to adequately train and augment
the skills of new and current staff in an era of increasing
caseloads. The shifting of Division Manager assignments has been
made in order to implement the necessary management overview for
the expanded Staff Development function. To produce the required
product of the in depth training and high quality employees,
further long-term coordination of the Staff Development division
function requires a full-time Division Manager. This Division
coordinates two in service training units for Eligibility and Child
Welfare Workers, as well as State-mandated programmatic training
for all line staff; in early 1990 the Division had trained 25,612
person hours in the previous year.
The concerns raised in the November 2 letter have been
heightened resulting from the recent Adult Services reductions the
Board of Supervisors authorized. It was necessary, as the Board was
advised in public hearings, to make serious curtailments of
services provided in the Adult Services area. However, outside
tgO %j-'2 1 - 90 Wel) 17 : 44 SOCIAL SERV I CE DaR -r P 03
funding for Childrens' Services Family Preservation Programs and
continued funds for Income Maintenance/ Eligibility Programs has
enabled services in those particular programs to grow.
Positions have been filled in the Family Preservation Program,
funded by an outside grant, and in replacement of a reassignment
to the Staff Development Division discussed above, and of an
Analyst in support of Childrens' Service operations. Those
positions
are currently funded in the Department's budget for this fiscal
year. Because of the ' span of control growth cited above, and
because of the geographic realities of service provision in all
areas of the County, it is not operationally possible or feasible
at this time to consolidate further the multiple assignment
responsibilities given to my Division Managers. This additional
mid-management staffing constitutes an increase from 16 to 18
managers, an increase of 12% compared to the overall 75% line staff
increase cited above.
Actual staffing reductions in Analyst positions supporting
Bureau operations ultimately exceeded the reduction target.
Commitments had been made on behalf of the Board to AFSCME Local
512 to staff for this fiscal year at a certain programmatic and
workload level. For those reasons, an appointment of a Program
Analyst in the Childrens'Services was made.
While I continue to be sensitive to concerns of top-heavy
management, I believe that it is critically necessary to support
the line staff operations with sufficient managers to accomplish
the serious responsibilities of this Department.
JR:jc
Attachment