REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 7, 2021
FROM
CURT HAGMAN, Chairman and Fourth District Supervisor, Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
Employment Contract for County Counsel
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
AMENDED-Approve employment contract with Thomas Bunton to provide services to the County Counsel’s Office as County Counsel, for a total estimated annual cost of $473,567 (Salary - $281,029, Benefits - $192,538), for a period of four years, effective December 7, 2021 January 1, 2022 through December 6, 2025 December 31, 2025.
(Presenter: Curt Hagman, Chairman and Fourth District Supervisor, 387-4866)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended employment contract will not require the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Funding for the position of County Counsel has been included within the County Counsel 2021-22 budget, and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
County Counsel provides legal services to the Board of Supervisors (Board) and County departments pursuant to Government Code sections 26526 and 27640 et seq. and County Code sections 12.1901 et seq. The prior County Counsel recently retired and the Board, as the appointing authority, has completed a recruitment process to fill the position on a permanent basis. It is anticipated that the Board will appoint the successful candidate as County Counsel at the December 7, 2021 Board meeting. The County Counsel serves a four-year term of office pursuant to Government Code section 27641. The County Counsel’s Office has more than 50 lawyers within the department and provides support to County departments and various agencies.
As this recruitment was still in process upon retirement of County Counsel, on October 5, 2021 (Item No. 63), the Board approved Contract No. 21-714 with Olivarez Madruga Lemieux O’Neill, LLP for interim County Counsel services and appointed Steven O’Neill as Interim County Counsel for the period of October 6, 2021 through December 31, 2021.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Steven O’Neill, Interim County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 29, 2021; Human Resources (Gina King, Deputy Director, 387-5571) on November 24, 2021; Finance (Stephenie Shea, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on November 29, 2021; County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on November 24, 2021.