Flynn Seeks More Power for Mental Health Board

With the county still reeling from a $15.3-million slam by the U. S. attorney’s office, Supervisor John K. Flynn on Tuesday will ask the Mental Health Board to drop what he says is its political agenda and focus on serving the mentally ill.

The citizens advisory board, which was created by state directive to oversee the local mental health system and make recommendations to supervisors, has been at odds with the county’s mental health department for some time.

The department, meanwhile, has been under siege since April 1998 when supervisors merged the mental health and social services agencies--a move that was rescinded nine months later when it became clear that it violated federal regulations. The failed merger touched off several state and federal audits, resulting in a $15.3-million settlement over faulty billing practices.

Flynn said the advisory board has been largely ineffective because of infighting and political agenda-pushing.

“I want to see the official board become more powerful,” Flynn said Friday. “To be a community board, not a political board, and to be only interested in the client and services to the client.”

Emphasizing patient care, Flynn said he wants to give the 13-member board more authority to develop programs for the mentally ill.

In the past, the board has focused on matters such as choosing the replacement for former mental health chief Stephen Kaplan, who was ousted in the wake of the failed merger.

In May, a split advisory board advocated opening up the hiring process rather than appointing acting director David Gudeman. Board Chairman John Chaudier demanded Gudeman’s ouster, saying the 39-year-old psychiatrist lacked the experience to lead a department with 560 employees and a $50-million budget.

A month later, Gudeman was named permanent director of the troubled health department by a split vote of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors after a contentious three-hour public hearing.

On Friday, Chaudier and other Mental Health Board members voiced concern that Gudeman was withholding information about changes he is making in the department.

“It is extremely, extremely difficult to get information from him so that our board can make intelligent decisions,” Chaudier said, noting that state statute requires open communication between the director and board.

“This is a reprisal because we advocated an open process” rather than approving Gudeman, Chaudier said. “We’re extremely concerned about the lack of information flow.”

Chaudier and board secretary Shlomo Kreitzer said they plan to attend the supervisors’ meeting Tuesday and address those concerns.

But Flynn defended Gudeman, who could not be reached for comment Friday.

“They’re still fighting old battles,” the supervisor said. “I’m not interested in that. I’m interested in giving them more authority in issues like housing and having them help move specific projects along.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, Flynn, who replaced Supervisor Susan Lacey as a member of the advisory board two months ago, also plans to review the panel’s bylaws and responsibilities.

Kreitzer, Chaudier and other members said they look forward to such a review since they want to be included in the decision-making process on mental health matters.

“This is a welcome opportunity to clarify our role so that we might fulfill our original function,” Kreitzer said.