REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 18, 2025
FROM
JASON ANDERSON, District Attorney
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Employment Contracts for Contract Attorneys
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Amendment No. 3 to Employment Contract No. 21-916, effective December 1, 2025, with Stephanie Weissman as a Contract Attorney, increasing the contract authorization by $30,000, from $888,240 to a total aggregate amount not to exceed $918,240, and extending the contract for an additional two years, for a total contract period of December 20, 2021 through November 30, 2027.
2. Approve Amendment No. 3 to Employment Contract No. 21-917, effective December 1, 2025, with Jaclyn Romano as a Contract Attorney, extending the contract an additional two years, for a total contract period of December 20, 2021 through November 30, 2027, with no change to the contract authorization of $800,640.
(Presenter: Michael Fermin, Chief Assistant District Attorney, 382-3662)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the request for additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The District Attorney (Department) has spent approximately $700,000 for Employment Contract Nos. 21-916 and 21-917 since the beginning of the contracts in December 2021. The contract costs include salary and required costs such as Workers’ Compensation insurance. If needed, the Department has committed to paying the costs of the two contract attorneys assigned to the Department’s Consumer Environmental Protection Unit (CEP) that exceed the cost of the budgeted full-time Deputy District Attorney IV assigned to CEP within its Discretionary General Fund budget. Sufficient appropriation has been included in the Department’s 2025-26 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department is the public prosecutor and has the mandated responsibility to prosecute crimes committed within San Bernardino County, including city jurisdictions, pursuant to Government Code section 26500. The Department also provides services to victims of crime in accordance with Penal Code section 13835 et seq. The Department’s Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit (CEP) was established in 1990 to prosecute civil and criminal actions for unlawful activities such as hazardous waste dumping, consumer fraud, and violations of the State of California Division of Occupational Safety and Health to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for California workers. These types of litigation result in court orders or final judgments against the defendant to pay fines, penalties, cost recovery, restitution and remediation to direct and indirect victims.
On December 14, 2021 (Item No. 36), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Employment Contract No. 21-916 with Stephanie Weissman as a Contract Attorney for a total aggregate amount not to exceed $420,240, effective December 20, 2021 through November 30, 2023, and Employment Contract No. 21-917 with Jaclyn Romano as a Contract Attorney for a total aggregate amount not to exceed $379,440, effective December 20, 2021 through November 30, 2023 to assist CEP with litigating violations of consumer and environmental law.
On November 14, 2023 (Item No. 37), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to Employment Contract No. 21-916 with Stephanie Weissman increasing the rate of pay from $103 to $150 per hour for a total aggregate amount not to exceed $888,240, and extending the contract for an additional two years, for a total contract period of December 20, 2021 through November 30, 2025. The Board also approved Amendment No. 1 to Employment Contract No. 21-917 with Jaclyn Romano increasing the rate of pay from $93 to $135 per hour for a total aggregate amount not to exceed $800,640 and extending the contract an additional two years for a total contract period of December 20, 2021 through November 30, 2025.
On March 11, 2025 (Item No. 23), the Board approved Amendment No. 2 to Employment Contract No. 21-916 with Stephanie Weissman and Amendment No. 2 to Employment Contract No. 21-917 with Jaclyn Roman to add a provision for participation in the San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association (SBCERA). Article III Membership of the by-laws of SBCERA require membership if contracted employees exceed a year’s employment and who work 50% or more of full-time hours as defined by San Bernardino County, measured on a fiscal year basis. Amendment No. 2 also updated medical, dental and leave provisions, with no change to the total aggregate amount or contract term.
The Department requests approval of Amendment No. 3 to extend both employment contracts to ensure continued litigation on pending cases of violations of consumer and environmental law. The Department requests to increase Contract No. 21-916 by $30,000 to ensure sufficient contract authorization for the two-year extension. Contract No. 21-917 has sufficient remaining authorization and does not need to be increased.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Scott Runyan, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 16, 2025; Human Resources (Gina King, Assistant Director, 387-5571) on October 20, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on October 28, 2025.