Minutes of the Board of Trustees – Wednesday, September 10, 2008.
1. Roll Call:
Present: President, Bruce Myers; Secretary, Belen Gomez; Bette George; Evan Long; and Harold Dozier.
Staff: Manager, Michael Alburn.
2. Approval of August Minutes:
It was moved by Evan Long, seconded by Harold Dozier, and unanimously carried that the Minutes of the August meeting be approved as mailed.
3. Approval of August Bills:
Following discussion, it was moved by Harold Dozier, seconded by Bette George, and unanimously carried that the August Bills be approved as mailed. See: Board Order to disburse funds No. 4, Exhibit I.
4. Approval of September Payroll:
Following discussion, it was moved by Belen Gomez, seconded by Evan Long, and unanimously carried that the September Payroll be approved as mailed. See: Board Order to disburse funds No. 5, Exhibit II.
5. Public Forum:
None.
6. Operational Report:
The Manager reported on mosquito control efforts ongoing at the Kingsburg Gun Club on City of Kingsburg property leased by Del Monte Foods.
Adult mosquito control efforts have taken place following disease surveillance results indicating higher risk for human exposure to West Nile virus. The communities involved include Exeter, Traver, Visalia, Farmersville and the vicinity around the Kingsburg Gun Club.
Follow up on the local school phone tree notification method included the revelation that some districts do not have or have discontinued the system. The method of communication is flyer or U.S. Mail.
Dinuba’s Ridge Creek Golf Course Superintendent Mark Langston has contacted the District to ensure treatment of puddles throughout course. Mr. Langston was grateful that community has a District as his previous employment required that he perform control work.
The Trustees were shown the Go 4 and the Toyota Camry Hybrid purchased during the month.
7. West Nile Virus Update:
Yolanda Lourenco, Assistant Manager/ Biologist provided the Trustees an in depth overview of the District’s disease surveillance and control program. Particular emphasis was made as to the significantly improved capabilities of the lab this year due to the purchase of the Revco freezer. Through the end of August over 35,000 mosquitoes from 240 traps resulted in 429 submissions, 28 being positive (6.5% positive for WNv).
8. East County Abatement Study Steering Committee:
John Bliss from SCI came to Porterville in order to explain Prop.218 funding to the committee. The Tulare District brought their board president, attorney and district manager and all participated in the meeting. The District’s Municipal Service Review (MSR) has been submitted to LAFCO and we will be called to go over the documents shortly. The chief concern Delta is making as they perform the MSR’s is that a qualified entomologist evaluate the ability of each district to provide disease surveillance and control. It has been Delta’s position that the Tulare District does not provide a comparable level of disease surveillance, but instead has a nuisance control focus. The difference is a surveillance driven model and a complaint driven model. Since Culex are less frequently called in as complaints the disease surveillance model is what identifies the target areas and dictates the control requirements in a West Nile virus campaign. A complaint driven model responds to people who call in, but that does not translate to locating infected mosquitoes, resulting in area wide fogging.
The next meeting of the Committee is October 20th. I informed Mr. Finney, Executive Officer of the fact that the Delta Vector Control District Board wants to see the South Visalia area addressed in terms of boundary and Sphere Of Influence(SOI) as part of the MSR process.
9. Review Delta Vector Control District Policy 3002, Vacation:
The Manager requested the Trustees review the Vacation Policy as two issues need to be addressed:
Usage in first six months of employment.
Cap on total accrual.
The District has had several instances where employees unexpectedly need time off which is not considered sick leave during the first six months of employment. By Policy, we are to deny the request, when otherwise no reason exists for denial. Manager requested the condition be struck from the Policy.
The cap on total accrual is causing problems for us in staffing. Voluntary vacation scheduling is not satisfactorily resulting in allowing the time to be taken without running into a must use situation. Amending the Policy to require vacation to be scheduled by November 1st for employees projected to be over the cap April 1st will allow staffing to be maintained at desired levels throughout the winter months and particularly in March when our season is approaching and much needs to be accomplished.
The Trustees agreed and asked the Manager to draft an amended policy for the first reading in October at the regular meeting. In particular, the Trustees felt the amended policy should make the scheduled time irrevocable except in the event of a family emergency.
10. MVCAC & VCJPA BOD Meeting, October 29-31, South Lake Tahoe:
The Manager requested travel approval for himself and the Assistant Manager to the meetings of these associations. Following discussion, it was moved by Harold Dozier, seconded by Bette George and unanimously carried to approve the request.
11. Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.
Board Minutes approved on October 8, 2008.
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Michael W. Alburn, Recording Secretary