REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 23, 2024
FROM
DIANA ALEXANDER, Assistant Executive Officer, Human Services
SUBJECT
Title
Employment Contract for the California Statewide Automated Welfare System
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve employment contract with Eric Fortenberry as a Business Analyst II for the California Statewide Automated Welfare System, for an estimated annual cost of $92,546 ($70,054 Salary, $22,492 Benefits), for the period of January 27, 2024 through January 22, 2027.
2. Authorize the Assistant Executive Officer to execute amendments to extend the term of the employment contract for a maximum of three successive one-year periods, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Assistant Executive Officer to transmit all employment contract amendments to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Diana Alexander, Assistant Executive Officer, 387-4261)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The estimated annual cost of $92,546 will be state and federally funded through the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) Joint Powers Authority (JPA). Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Human Services Administration Claim 2023-24 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 1996, the Consortium IV (C-IV), comprised of San Bernardino, Riverside, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties, was formed and contractually joined together in a collaborative effort for the development, implementation, and maintenance of an automated welfare system. At the initiation of the C-IV project, employment contracts were utilized for positions, as the job duties required did not match any County classification. The County does not have any regular classified positions with regard to C-IV duties, thus these remain contracted positions. This contracted position is fully reimbursed to the County by the C-IV project. The C-IV project continues to be a County administered automated welfare system requiring continuous design enhancements and maintenance as C-IV transitions to CalSAWS.
The CalSAWS JPA was created for the purpose of designing, developing, implementing, operating, and maintaining an automated welfare system. The JPA, an independent government agency organized under California law, is comprised of 39 counties, and governed and administered by a Board of Directors comprised of County Welfare Directors. The County is a member of the JPA.
On May 9, 2023 (Item No. 25), as the result of a formal recruitment, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 23-326 with Eric Fortenberry as an Implementation Coordinator with CalSAWS from May 20, 2023 through December 19, 2023. On November 30, 2023, the Assistant Executive Officer extended the term for Contract No. 23-326 via Delegation of Authority through May 31, 2024. The Implementation Coordinator represents CalSAWS in the development and migration into CalSAWS. This position is responsible for leading project tasks, reviewing technical specifications, working with the Application Development and Test teams, and collaborating with information technology staff. Through his position as an Implementation Coordinator, Mr. Fortenberry has achieved the knowledge and experience to adequately qualify for the Business Analyst II position.
The Business Analyst II position assists in the development and migration into CalSAWS. This position is responsible for leading project tasks, reviewing technical specifications, working with the Application Development and Test teams, and collaborating with information technology staff.
The recommended contract will be effective January 27, 2024, and shall remain in effect through January 22, 2027, subject to the termination provisions of the contract, with the option to extend for a maximum of three successive one-year periods. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may terminate the contract at any time without cause, upon 14 days prior written notice to the other party. The County may terminate the contract immediately for just cause.
PROCUREMENT
CalSAWS initiated an open recruitment for CalSAWS project staff from September 20, 2023 through October 20, 2023. There were 27 applications received for various positions, and qualified applicants were interviewed through November 8, 2023. Eric Fortenberry was identified as having the qualifications and experience to fill one Business Analyst II position related to the CalSAWS project. Upon approval of the Director of the Transitional Assistance Department, Eric Fortenberry was given a conditional job offer contingent on the Board’s approval. CalSAWS recommends an employment contract with Eric Fortenberry as a Business Analyst II at a starting salary of $33.68 per hour.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on December 20, 2023; County Counsel (Cynthia O’Neill, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on December 27, 2023; Human Resources (Gina King, Assistant Director, 387-5570) on December 28, 2023; Finance (Chris Lange, Administrative Analyst, 386-8393) on December 29, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on January 4, 2023.