County looking for new personnel director

Glenn County likely could have a new personnel director by March.

The Board of Supervisors expects to make an announcement at its March 5 meeting, Chairman John Viegas said.

The board met in closed session Tuesday and directed Interim Personnel Director Huston Carlyle to talk with candidates for the position.

He has served as interim director since December 2010 in addition to being county counsel following the retirement of longtime Personnel Director John Greco.

That decision saved the county money for the last two years, officials said.

However, the workload has proven difficult for Carlyle lately, and he has had to seek outside legal counsel recently to handle some personnel matters where conflicts arose.

So the board decided it is time to get a new personnel director and advertised the position.

Board members interviewed four applicants on Feb. 11.

However, Supervisor Mike Murray described those interviewed as "great candidates."

Carlyle said 19 people applied for the position, and he has been directed to negotiate a contract with the successful candidate.

Details on a final agreement will be made available for public review prior to the March 5 board meeting, he said, assuming an offer is accepted. The board will take final action at that meeting.

In other action, the board approved separating the personnel department from the county counsel's office in preparation for making it a stand-alone department again.

The two departments were combined in 2010, Carlyle said, but Tuesday's preliminary action will undo that.

Also, the new personnel director will become Glenn County's Safety Officer again - taking those duties from Carlyle, he said.

Final action on these county code amendments will take place in March as well.