Community watchdogs sought to serve for one-year terms on
panel
The annual recruitment for the San Benito County Civil Grand
Jury has begun, with 19 government watchdogs sought for one-year
terms.
”
It’s an education like no other,
”
said Roxy Montana, who, since 2000, has been a grand jury member
for five terms, including three as foreperson
– appointed by a judge – and two terms as secretary.
”
We are the watchdogs of the community and provide review of the
operations of the various departments.
”
Montana said she became involved because she wanted to learn
”
the nuts and bolts of our county from the inside out.
”
Community watchdogs sought to serve for one-year terms on panel
The annual recruitment for the San Benito County Civil Grand Jury has begun, with 19 government watchdogs sought for one-year terms.
“It’s an education like no other,” said Roxy Montana, who, since 2000, has been a grand jury member for five terms, including three as foreperson – appointed by a judge – and two terms as secretary. “We are the watchdogs of the community and provide review of the operations of the various departments.”
Montana said she became involved because she wanted to learn “the nuts and bolts of our county from the inside out.”
“Personally, I have learned all sorts of ‘secrets,’ or what goes on behind closed doors,” she said, adding that she has learned information “that any other community member without a grand jury badge would not have the ability to know, since much of what we learn is confidential.”
Superior Court Judge Steven Sanders appoints citizens to the grand jury for one-year terms, though they are allowed to serve consecutive terms. Prospective jurors must be at least 18 years old, have been a resident of the county for at least a year and must not be serving as an elected public officer.
The grand jury can investigate city and county government agencies, as well as special districts and school districts.
Applicants, Montana said, should be “of reasonable intelligence and education,” with no criminal background and a good command of the English language.
The jury may subpoena witnesses to give testimony or to deliver documents for the group to study. Jury members are sworn to secrecy and – except in rare circumstances – their work, including meeting minutes and records, cannot be subpoenaed by an outside body.
At the end of its term, which runs July 1 to June 30, the grand jury issues a report and distributes it to public officials, the media and the county library. The county Board of Supervisors must respond to each of the grand jury’s recommendations within 90 days.
The jury operates independently from the court, which does not control the content or the process of gathering the report.
The final reports, Montana said, “are the body of work, or culmination, of our term’s interviews, inspections or investigations. It is interesting to see the relationships of the departments and agencies within our community and I would not have learned this without being on the grand jury. I have also learned volumes about people and how they react to issues.”
Each grand jury sets its meeting schedule, though Montana said jurors typically meet once a week for two to three hours.
“The grand jurors that I have led have been more educated through multiple meetings with our officials, both elected and appointed,” she said. “Our interviews have provided insight into what concerns are current and future issues of our growing community – and how the departments are equipped to find solutions, especially in our economic situation.”
The grand jury will hold an informative meeting for interested applicants on May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors’ chamber at the corner of Fourth and West streets.
HOW TO APPLY
Those interested in serving on the San Benito County Civil Grand Jury must fill out a questionnaire/application, which is available online at www.sanbenito.courts.ca.gov or www.sanbenitocountygrandjury.org. A hard copy of the application is available at the county courthouse, 440 Fifth St., Room 205. Call 637-4057 for more information.
