Daily Republic
January 11, 2012
The Solano County Board of Supervisors made its annual change of command on Tuesday, but it was a far different scene than last year’s change.
This time around, Supervisor Linda Seifert was unanimously selected to fill the role of board chairperson, while Supervisor Jim Spering will continue in his role as vice chair. Supervisor Mike Reagan, former chairperson, will now serve as chair pro tem.
Last year’s first meeting of the new year and the choice of a chairperson didn’t go so smoothly after Supervisor Barbara Kondylis voiced her very apparent displeasure with the board’s decision to pass over her for the chairmanship.
“For several years now, I have been slapped in the face by the men on this board,” she said at the time. “The one thing that just drives me bananas is that this has nothing to do with competency or skill or intelligence. It has to do with pure unadulterated spite and power grab. I’m making that a public statement because I resent it.”
Even so, during Kondylis’ 19 years she has served as chair on the board but now will not be able to hold the post again before her term is up this year since she has announced that she will not seek re-election.
“Hopefully this is my last opportunity to pick a chair,” she said Tuesday. “It’s bittersweet, but I’m glad I don’t have to do it again.”
Seifert said she was overwhelmed by the support from the rest of the board.
“It has been a long drought since a woman has sat in this chair,” she said,
adding that the last time was 2005. “I call this service a slight crack in the glass ceiling for those of us who look to change the world in small ways. I like to think that crack will grow wider and wider in the coming years.”
Seifert explained that being chosen is still bittersweet.
“My friend and my colleague, Supervisor Barbara Kondylis, in my view should have had the honor of completing her fourth term as chair of this group,” she said. “Her constituents should have had the opportunity to see her one last time at the helm.”
The formalities over, the board on Tuesday immediately got to work, first hearing a report on how 2011 went and then looking ahead to financial matters for 2012.
County Administrator Birgitta Corsello gave an annual report on 2011 that highlighted the accomplishments the county achieved. She noted the changes in leadership as well as the move to several automation projects including conversion to electronic health records and expansion of online and self-help services. Additionally, Solano County was recognized for several accomplishments including its fifth run as one of the 100 Best Communities in the nation, the Money Matters program that helps youth be money wise and the Solano Grown marketing effort.
As for 2012 and beyond, the county is looking at cost-saving measures and revenue opportunities. Tuesday, the board continued its discussion on how to address a $15 million structural deficit.
Strategies include eliminating or freezing all vacant positions and only fill positions that are mission critical; reviewing all discretionary programs to see what programs can be cut; continuing to pursue additional employee contract concessions in addition to current contract agreements; reducing general fund expenses up to $9 million from public safety, health and social services and other general fund departments; continuing to reduce the county’s footprint in the form of buildings in Fairfield, Vallejo and Vacaville; and continuing automation in the delivery of services.
A supervisors meeting in February will include midyear cuts for the current fiscal year that could also contribute to the cuts needed for next fiscal year.
Original article here.
