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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 11141995 - SD4 SD.4 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on November 14, 1995, by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Smith, DeSaulnier, Torlakson and Bishop NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Steps to be Taken in Anticipation of the Resignation of the Mark Finucane, Health Services Director. Phil Batchelor, County Administrator, presented his report to the Board of Supervisors and also suggested that the Board may want to consider appointing William B. Walker, M.D., County Health Officer, as the new permanent Health Services Director instead of hiring a national search firm to fill the position in lieu of recommendation No. 2 on the attached report (Attachment A). Mr. Batchelor suggested that the Board may want to consider this option in the interest of time, given Dr. Walker's national reputation and excellent record in Contra Costa County. Supervisor Bishop expressed her interest in hiring a national search firm, and then called for public comment on the matter. The following persons spoke in support of hiring William B. Walker, M.D., as the new permanent Health Services Director upon the resignation of Mark Finucane, the current Health Services Director.- 1. irector:1. Kent Hobert, M.D., Medical Staff Executive Committee, 2500 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez. 2. Henry L. Clarke, Local 1 Representative, 5034 Blum Road, Martinez. All persons desiring to speak were heard, the chair declared the public testimony closed. Supervisor DeSaulnier moved that the Board request a more detailed report from the County Administrator at the November 28, 1995, Board meeting outlining what the Board might expect from the recruitment process. Supervisor Smith seconded the motion and also recommended that in the two week interim period, the Health Services Committee meet with the County Administrator, the Health Services Department, Dr. Walker, and Union Leaders to discuss the issue. Supervisor Smith also requested that a report be submitted by Mark Finucane, Health Services Director, about the options and information from the County Administrator on the process utilized in hiring a new Health Director for Los Angeles County. Supervisor Torlakson expressed support for the motion and suggested that the report to the Board should include alternative recruitment processes and give a time-line breakdown of important issues facing the Health Services Department, division by division. Supervisor Torlakson advised that the outline should include the critical time frames for decisions, projects, programs, or financing that the County needs to tackle within the next three months, so that the Board may better determine whether to make an immediate appointment or to conduct either a limited or a thorough search. 1 Supervisor Bishop stated that she would not be supporting the motion and urged the Board to immediately begin a national search for a permanent Health Services Director. There was no vote on the motion. After further discussion on the matter, Supervisor Torlakson suggested that the Board schedule a meeting in one week. Supervisor Rogers suggested that the Board may want to conduct a quick solicitation of resumes, starting with the Los Angeles County applicants, in order to gauge the level of other potential applicants, and make a decision in two weeks about whether to conduct an executive search. Supervisor Bishop indicated that she would support a motion to bring this matter back before the Board in one week, consistent with Supervisor Torlakson's request. Supervisor Smith advised that if the Board requested staff to provide a thorough report and state all options, the Board would need to give staff two weeks to prepare those reports, due to the approaching Thanksgiving holiday. Supervisor Smith reiterated that the Board should hold this issue for two weeks and get a more thorough analysis and a more complete staff report from the County Administrator, the Health Services Director, and the Hospital Committee. He recommended that these reports should be reviewed by the Board in two weeks, allowing the public to have input during the meeting. After further discussion, Supervisor DeSaulnier moved to declare the Board's intent to appoint William B. Walker, M.D., County Health Officer, as the Acting Health Services Director and Acting Public Health Guardian as there will be a transitional period before the date that a new Health Services Director is named by the Board. Supervisor DeSaulnier further moved that the Board schedule a meeting of the Board of Supervisors for Tuesday, November 21, 1995, to make a determination regarding recommendations Nos. 1 and 2 as stated in the attached report (Attachment A); and further moved to request the County Administrator to provide a prospective time-line to the Board outlining what might be expected if the Board chose to conduct a nation- wide search for a permanent Health Services Director. Supervisor Torlakson seconded the motion. IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the Board DECLARES its intent to appoint William B. Walker, M.D., County Health Officer, as the Acting Health Services Director and Acting Public Health Guardian during the transitional period prior to the date that a new Health Services Director is named by the Board of Supervisors. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a meeting of the Board of Supervisors is SCHEDULED for Tuesday, November 21, 1995, in the Board Chambers to make a determination regarding recommendations Nos. 1 and 2 as stated in the attached report (See Attachment A). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the County Administrator is REQUESTED to provide a prospective time-line to the Board outlining what could be expected if the Board chose to conduct a nation-wide search for a permanent Health Services Director. I hercoy certify that this is a true and correct copy Of an action taken d ntered on the minutes of the Board of Su rs on the d e own. . 9�s" ATTEST J EIOR.Oerk of the Boa end Coun 1st cc: County Administrator Human Resources Director Health Services Director William B. Walker, M.D., County Health Officer 2 ATTACHMENT "A" S.D TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR " �►` ''� Costa November 9, 1995 � rT �_' County DATE: �+ coLe+'� SUBJECT: STEPS TO BE TAKEN IN ANTICIPATION OF THE RESIGNATION OF THE HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTOR SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&.BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. APPOINT William B. Walker, M.D., County Health Officer, as Acting Health Services Director and Acting Public Guardian during the transition period between now and the date a new Health Services Director is named by the Board of Supervisors and reports to work. 2. AUTHORIZE the County Administrator to execute a contract with Norman Roberts &Associates, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $27,500 for the period November 15, 1995 through February 15, 1996 for the purpose of conducting a nationwide recruitment for a new Health Services Director. BACKGROUND: As the Board is aware, the Health Services Director, Mark Finucane, has been offered a position as Health Services Director for the County of Los Angeles beginning January 15, 1996. While Mr. Finucane has not yet announced a specific resignation date, it is important that we provide for a smooth transition.between now and the time a new Health Services Director is chosen and reports to work. This is not likely to happen before Mr. Finucane's departure and therefore it is important that an Acting Health Services Director be named during this transition period. The Health Services Director also serves ex officio as the Public Guardian, so an Acting Public Guardian should also be named. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: A;IIIIIII i& RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): November �_ b 1995 ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Please See Attached Board Order. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS EREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND RECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTER ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS THE DATE SHOWN. Count Adminis Or ATTESTED Contact: y PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK HE BOARD OF cc: Director of man Resources SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY AD TRATOR Health rvices Director W' 'am B. Walker, M.D., County Health Officer BY UTY William B. Walker, M.D., the County Health Officer, is the senior member of the Executive staff of the Health Services Department and has served with distinction as the Acting Director of the Department previously. While each of the Division Heads in the Department operates his or her Division with a fair degree of independence, it is necessary to have a single point of responsibility in the Department that this Office, the Board members and the general public can look to as providing the principal leadership to the Department. It is, therefore, our recommendation that Dr. Walker be appointed to serve as Acting Director during the transition period when Mr. Finucane will be disengaging from the Department and moving to take over his new duties in Los Angeles. It is important that we obtain the best possible replacement for Mr. Finucane. This can be accomplished most effectively by use of a professional recruiter, commonly known as a "head hunter". The County has used Norm Roberts successfully in the past with a number of Department Head recruitments and we would recommend that his firm be used again to recruit for a new Health Services Director. -2-