The final report of the San Benito County Grand Jury found no
major issues with the eight departments it inspected, but it made
recommendations to do a cost analysis of the Marshal’s Office, look
into a new facility for the sheriff and asked for improvements at
Panoche School.
The 2003-2004 report has not been released to the public, but
the Free Lance obtained a copy of the report this week.
Hollister – The final report of the San Benito County Grand Jury found no major issues with the eight departments it inspected, but it made recommendations to do a cost analysis of the Marshal’s Office, look into a new facility for the sheriff and asked for improvements at Panoche School.
The 2003-2004 report has not been released to the public, but the Free Lance obtained a copy of the report this week.
The Grand Jury was made up of 18 community members who serve as watchdogs of city and county government, the criminal justice system, and education and health and welfare.
Members of the Jury reviewed the operations of the San Benito County Marshal’s Office, the Sheriff’s Department, Panoche School and the Hollister Police Department, among other agencies.
The Marshal’s Office and Panoche School were the most important areas it looked into, said Jury secretary Suzanne Gere.
It investigated whether there could be a possible cost savings if the Marshal’s Office, was consolidated with the Sheriff’s Department, according to the report.
“There was a lot of controversy about the Marshal’s Office and the Grand Jury was very satisfied of its review,” Gere said.
The Jury recommended the county conduct a detailed cost evaluation before deciding whether to merge the office with the sheriff’s department.
“Before we decide to merge or eliminate the office we need to look at the financial repercussions to the county and the citizens,” Gere said. “He serves a lot of people.”
Marshal Robert Scattini was pleased with the Jury’s report and encouraged a cost evaluation of his office.
“I would love to have a cost analysis done,” Scattini said. “They’ll see what the savings are.”
Gere said the Jury wants the sheriff’s department to concentrate more on patrol and providing adequate public safety to the community instead of serving papers.
The Marshal’s Office executes the county’s court orders, such as serving eviction notices to tenants, subpoenas to witnesses and lawsuits to defendants. The Marshal also oversees court security for the bottom floor of the courthouse.
“We found that the Marshal’s Office is efficiently run, well organized and runs a very, very tiny budget,” Gere said. “In larger counties where they have a huge sheriff’s department they can absorb (the costs of a combined Marshal’s office), but not in this county.”
The Jury’s investigation into Panoche School focused on determining if unhealthy or dangerous conditions existed at the school and whether proper procedures for conducting public meetings were being adhered to, according to the report.
The Jury noted that the kitchen was prohibited from further use to prepare lunches for the students due to rodent droppings and an infestation of cockroaches, and that there was a significant failure of the Panoche School Board to post information for public meetings under the Brown Act.
Recommendations included becoming more familiar with the Brown Act and bringing the school into compliance with Health Department regulations.
Gardiner Hammond, board chairman of Panoche School, said the school has already complied with all of the Jury’s recommendations by cleaning up the kitchen and posting meeting signs in better view for residents.
Historically, school board meeting signs were posted on the doors of the school, but the board moved the signs to the fence in the front of the school by the road, Hammond said.
“We’ve done everything they asked,” he said. “They’re happy and we’re happy.”
The Jury’s investigation of the Hollister Police Department found that staffing levels have not increased with the growth in population, and that night coverage is minimal and often supported by the Sheriff’s Department. The Jury recommended that the department re-instate the Citizen Youth Academy and continue its youth impact program.
Police Chief Jeff Miller had not received a copy of the report by press time and declined to comment on the Jury’s findings until he had looked it over.
The Jury also reviewed the Sheriff’s Department and found that it needs a new facility and needs to reassess staffing levels, according to the report.
Sheriff Curtis Hill said a “space needs study” for a new facility, both for the sheriff’s office and the jail, is underway and should be presented to the Board of Supervisors by the end of the month.
He also said despite his department having half the deputies of counties of a similar size, he constantly reviews staffing levels to ensure the proper level of enforcement is being carried out by his deputies.
“I reassess staffing levels sometimes hourly,” Hill said. “Every time I look at the schedule, I’m reassessing staffing levels.”
Hill was pleased with the Jury’s report because he felt it highlighted the things he’s most concerned about for the future success of his department.
“The Grand Jury folks spend a tremendous amount of man hours on the project every year,” he said. “I truly thank them for this report.”
