63 - Of Transparency, Contracts and Performance: Navigating the Brown Act, Director Contracts & Performance Evaluations for Mosquito Abatement Districts in California.

The Brown Act was enacted in 1953 to guarantee the public’s right to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies and as a response to growing concerns about local government officials’ practice of holding secret meetings that were not in compliance with advance public notice requirements. The Brown Act is pivotal in making public officials accountable for their actions and in allowing the public to participate in the decision making process.

Communication between Managers/Directors and Board Members is critical and starts with a comprehensive contract reflecting employment goals and objectives clearly spelled out and measurable. These expectations should present a clear pathway for what the job entails, accountability to the Board of Trustees and ultimately the citizens of the community for which we serve. Financial compensation should be clearly defined and discussed as well as other benefits associated with employment.

Performance evaluations should reflect agreed upon goals and objectives between the Board and the Director on an annual basis, which are both attainable and measurable. This talk will address experiences encountered from real life accounts of a small California District.