COACHELLA VALLEY MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT

Board of Trustees Meeting

 

April 8, 2008

 

Call To Order:

President Duran called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

 

Pledge of Allegiance:

Trustee Henderson led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Roll Call:

Those present at roll call: President Duran, Vice President Fuschetti, Secretary/Treasurer Underwood, Trustees Baker, Henderson, Howell, Keck, Lock, Nigosian, and Walker. Also present were Interim General Manager Diane Glanz, Finance Manager David I’Anson, Administrative Clerk Crystal Garcia, and Information Systems Analyst Edward Prendez, and Legal Counsel Lisa Copeland and Supplemental Counsel Kathy Jenson. Trustee Macknicki was absent.

 

1.       Confirmation of Agenda:

Trustee Lock made the motion to approve the Agenda. The motion was seconded by Trustee Fuschetti and carried unanimously.

 

2.         Minutes:

A.                 Approval of Minutes from March 11, 2008, Board Meeting.

B.                Approval of Minutes from March 17, 2008, Board Meeting.

C.                Approval of Minutes from March 20, 2008, Board Meeting.

 

Trustee Henderson made the motion to approve the minutes of the March 11th, 17th, and 20th, 2008, Board Meetings. The motion was seconded by Trustee Keck and carried unanimously.

 

3.         Public Comment:

Public comments made by Robert Mann, Zulma Lopez, Brian Passaro, Laura Passaro, Herald Williamson, Marlene Ortiz, Dale Wissman, and Dean Gray.

 

4.         Announcements:

Interim General Manager Glanz announced that some of the clerical staff has been going to the field with some of the technicians. Administrative Clerk Diana Reyes was the first to ride along, and she reported that it gave her a better understanding of this aspect of the District’s responsibilities.  She felt it also helped the clerical staff in their responses to service calls from Valley residents. On Friday, April 11th, District employees will be attending a team building program conducted by New Team Adventures at the Palm Desert Civic Park.  

 

5.         Correspondence:

As in board packet.

 

6.         Approval of Expenditures for March 12-31, 2008, and April 1-8, 2008:

Trustee Henderson made the motion to approve the March 12-31, 2008, expenditures but to move the approval of expenditures for April 1-8, 2008, to later in the meeting so Trustees would have time to review the green sheet which was not available prior to the start of the meeting. The motion was seconded by Trustee Lock and carried with nine (9) approved (Duran, Fuschetti, Henderson, Howell, Keck, Lock, Nigosian, Underwood, and Walker) and one (1) opposed (Baker).

 

7.         Committee Reports

A.               Finance Committee

Secretary/Treasurer Underwood reported as follows. The February 29th financials for the month of February show the District had cash disbursements totaling $1,045,164, with cash receipts of $506,833. The largest single receipt in February was the pass-thru redevelopment from the City of La Quinta for $470,791.27. The Finance Committee had met twice since March 11th, and they have been reviewing the proposed budget that will go before the Board in a month or two. Also, as part of Strategic Planning, Trustee Lock has been working with the Finance Committee to look at the strategic planning for the capital budgeting. The next Finance Committee Meetings will be on the 28th of April.

 

B.               Executive Committee

President Duran reported that the minutes from the Executive Committee meeting are on page 41 of the Board Packet.

 

C.                Strategic Planning Committee

Trustee Lock reported that the she has been working with the Finance Committee and will be working on Strategic Planning as part of the capital improvement budget. Once that is completed, they will begin looking at long-range planning.

 

D.                Personnel Committee

Trustee Nigosian reported that the Personnel Committee had not met.

 

Public comment made by Rose Mindiola.

 

8.         Report of District Activities:      

A.                 Interim General Manager Glanz

B.                District Programs; progress and events since last Board meeting. 

Reports by:

                                                            1.      Human Resources – Anita Jones

                                                            2.      Laboratory and Biocontrol – Branka Lothrop, PhD

                                                            3.      Operations – Jim Saulnier

                                                            4.      Community Outreach – Maria Kylis

                                                            5.      Fleet/Facilities – John Schroeder

 

Short program updates were given by Interim General Manager Glanz, Scientific Operations Manager Lothrop, Operations Manager Saulnier, Community Educator Kylis, and Fleet/Facilities Supervisor Schroeder.

 

9.         Informational Items:

A.                 Argentine Pearl Fish

B.                Team Reports

C.                Update on contacts with City of Indio, City Attorney re: action to remove Board President Mike Duran as a Trustee.  Discussion for future agenda - Lisa Copeland, General Counsel

 

As in board packet. 

 

10.       Consent Calendar:

A.                 Approval for Scientific Operations Manager Lothrop, Assistant Vector Ecologist Snelling, and Community Educator Kylis to attend the Quarterly MVCAC meeting, May 1-2, 2008, in Monterey, CA in an amount not to exceed $3,000.00 from Fund #6110.01.225 – Conference Expense.

 

B.                Approval for Administrative Assistant Jones to attend the Public Sector Employment Law Conference, May 22-23, 2008, in San Francisco, CA in an amount not to exceed $1,500.00 from Fund #7600.01.225 – Conference Expense.

 

C.                Approval for Finance Manager I’Anson to attend the Special District and Local Government Institute Seminar, titled Administration, June 26 – 27, 2008, in San Diego for an amount not to exceed $1,500.00 from fund #7600.01.225 – Staff Training.

 

D.                Approval for Trustee Walker to attend California Special District Association’s (CSDA) Leadership Academy Module 3 – Board’s Role in Finance and Fiscal Accountability, May 16, 2008, in Sacramento in an amount not to exceed $1,500 from Fund #6120.01.250 – Trustee Support

 

Trustee Lock made the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded by Trustee Henderson and carried unanimously.

 

6.         Approval of Expenditures for April 1-8, 2008:

Trustee Lock questioned item 30806 NFP Accounting Technologies, Computer and Network Systems on the green sheet. Finance Administrator I’Anson responded that NFP Accounting is the company that provides support for FundWare accounting software. Trustee Underwood made the motion to approve the April 1-8, 2008, expenditures. The motion was seconded by Trustee Nigosian and carried with nine (9) approved (Duran, Fuschetti, Henderson, Howell, Keck, Lock, Nigosian, Underwood, and Walker) and one (1) opposed (Baker).                      

 

11.       Old Business:

A.        Reaffirm, modify, or rescind the action to place the General Manager on paid administrative leave pending the investigation of the allegations against him. – Lisa Copeland, General Counsel and Katherine Jenson, Legal Counsel

 

Supplemental Legal Counsel Jenson gave a brief report recommending that the Board take up the issue that was addressed on March 17th and requested anyone who wished to speak on this item to do so. 

 

Public comment made by Laura Passaro, Rose Mindiola, and Robert Mann.

 

Trustee Howell reaffirmed his motion made at the March Board Meeting to place General Manager Donald Gomsi on paid administrative leave during the investigation to recent allegations. The motion was seconded by Trustee Keck and carried unanimously.

 

12.       New Business:

A.        Discussion and/or approval to go out to bid and purchase from the  lowest responsible bidder a high performance, stereo microscope for the Biocontrol Department in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00 from Fund # 7450.01.220, Equipment, Parts & Supplies. – Dr. Branka Lothrop

 

Trustee Baker made the motion to approve Item 12A. The motion was seconded by Trustee Lock and carried unanimously.

 

B.        Discussion and/or approval of Resolution 2008-07 to authorize Diane Glanz and David I’Anson to approve transfers of funds between the District’s Desert Commercial Bank accounts. – David I’Anson

 

Trustee Henderson made the motion to approve Item 12B. The motion was seconded by Trustee Lock and carried unanimously.

 

C.        Discussion and/or approval to purchase two (2) EZ-Go ST-480 Work Horse carts from lowest responsible bidder not to exceed a total of $20,000.00 from Fund #9000.01.225 – Contingency Expense. – Jim Saulnier

 

Trustee Walker made the motion to approve Item 12C. The motion was seconded by Trustee Baker and carried unanimously.

 

D.        Discussion and/or approval to go out to bid and to purchase from the lowest responsible bidder a Nextel telephone communications system of 48 telephones for the District in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00 from Fund #  8415.01.210. The monthly service charge for use of the system is not to exceed $3,000.00. – Jim Saulnier

 

Trustee Lock made the motion to approve Item 12D. The motion was seconded by Trustee Howell and carried unanimously.

 

E.                 Discussion and/or approval of Resolution 2008-08 to Revising Line Item Expenditures for the Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2007/2008. – David I’Anson

 

Trustee Baker made the motion to approve Item 12E. The motion was seconded by Trustee Underwood and carried unanimously.

 

F.                 Discussion regarding retention of a management audit firm. – Trustee Sharon Lock

 

Trustee Lock made the motion to go out to bid for a management audit firm. A discussion ensued. The motion was seconded by Trustee Baker and carried unanimously.

 

G.               Discussion and/or appointment of nominee(s) for the Trustee Representative to the Vector Control Joint Powers Agency (VCJPA) Board of Directors and nominee(s) to serve as Alternate Trustee. – Interim General Manager Diane Glanz

 

No action taken on Item 12G.

 

H.                Discussion and/or direction to Staff on District media responses and outreach program. – Executive Committee

 

Public comment made by Brian Passaro.

 

Trustee Underwood made the motion that the item be sent to the Executive Committee and be presented at the next Board Meeting. The motion was seconded by Trustee Henderson and carried with nine (9) approved (Duran, Fuschetti, Henderson, Howell, Keck, Lock, Nigosian, Underwood, and Walker) and one (1) opposed (Baker).                   

 

13.       Closed Session:

A.        PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT Title:  Interim General Manager Government Code Section 54957

 

B.        Conference with Legal Counsel – anticipated litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(b) - 1 Potential Case

 

C.        Performance Evaluation – General Counsel – pursuant to Government Code section 54957

 

D.        Conference with Labor Negotiators pursuant to Government Code section 54957.6.  Agency designated representatives Diane Glanz and Lisa Copeland, Employee Organization, CSEA Chapter 2001

 

Returning from Closed Session Legal Counsel Copeland stated under Item 13B the District will seek an opinion from the State’s Attorney General concerning the City of Indio’s recent action to recall its Trustee and to request the City of Indio to join in the request to the Attorney General’s office for an opinion. There was not reportable action on Closed Session Items A, C, or D.

 

14.       Trustee Comments:

            None.

 

15.       Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned by President Duran at 12:03 a.m.