Give it to me soon or I’ll sue.
That’s the message San Benito County District Attorney John
Sarsfield has sent in a letter to the Board of Supervisors, in
which he threatened to take legal action against the county if the
Board doesn’t approve his request to contract with an outside firm
to build a Web site for his office.
Hollister – Give it to me soon or I’ll sue.
That’s the message San Benito County District Attorney John Sarsfield has sent in a letter to the Board of Supervisors, in which he threatened to take legal action against the county if the Board doesn’t approve his request to contract with an outside firm to build a Web site for his office.
At least that’s the way Board of Supervisors chair Reb Monaco characterized the letter. Sarsfield acknowledged the letter’s existence, but declined to comment on its contents.
Sarsfield asked the board earlier this month for the go-ahead to enter into an agreement with a San Jose-based company to build and maintain a Web site for his office. Hoping to save money, supervisors voted to hold off on granting approval while county staff looked into the possibility of including a DA Web site with a county-wide information technology overhaul.
“I wanted to send a message to the public and staff that we need to really tighten our belt,” said Supervisor Anthony Botelho, who pulled the Web site item off the board’s consent agenda June 7.
Sarsfield then sent a letter to Monaco, stating that he wanted a Web site sooner rather than later and threatened legal action if supervisors delayed too long in approving his request, according to Monaco.
“I’d laugh if I didn’t think he was serious,” Botelho said.
Santa Cruz County’s IT department is doing a study of San Benito County’s Internet and Web site capabilities, and will likely build the site if the board goes ahead with its alternative plan.
At today’s supervisors meeting Sarsfield will again request that the board let him use asset forfeiture money to pay for a DA Web site.
“I have no problem with Santa Cruz consolidating and providing services. I support the idea,” Sarsfield said. “My concern is we need it now.”
The Web site will cost $1,300 to build and $75 per month to maintain, according to the bid entered by San Jose-based ShipVantage. Sarsfield said the site would contain information on accessing the services his office provides. Also, he said, it would contain consumer information because San Benito does not have a Better Business Bureau.
According to Sarsfield, 54 of the 58 DA’s offices throughout the state already have a Web site. Of those that do not, two are in the process of building one.
“It needs to be done,” Sarsfield said. “People out there need services today.”
Luke Roney covers politics and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com.
