O.C. Restructuring Leaves Public Out

The League of Women Voters of Orange County takes exception to the haste with which CEO Jan Mittermeier’s county restructuring plan was presented and approved.

Whatever the plan’s merits might be, the manner of its presentation at a special meeting called on short notice sends the message that the public’s input is neither sought nor valued. Adopting the plan just days before the all-volunteer Government Practices Oversight Committee released its recommendations reinforced the impression that county government prefers to operate without bothersome citizen participation.

We reject the explanation that this is simply an internal reorganization with no impact on the public. The plan did more than rearrange boxes on an organizational chart. It eliminated two major agencies and proposed a mission statement and goals that will guide additional reorganizations in the coming months. We are pleased to note, however, that the mission statement was approved in concept only, and that it will be circulated as widely as possible for community discussion and input.

We believe the plan presented and adopted June 20 was of vital interest to the public. Citizens should have been given full prior explanations and a reasonable length of time to review it and make comments.

We would all welcome changes that make the county government more effective and efficient, but the suspicions and anger generated by the sudden bankruptcy will not diminish as long as citizens feel they are excluded from the decision-making process.

We urge the supervisors and CEO to include the public fully in its deliberations as additional changes are being considered.

JOAN COHEN

President

League of Women Voters of O.C.

Fullerton