BOARD TO EXPAND CAO'S POWER SUPERVISORS AGREE TO RE-EXAMINE HUFFORD'S ROLE.

Byline: Jennifer Klein Staff Writer

VENTURA - County supervisors were in agreement Tuesday that it is time to expand the powers of the county's top officer.

And based on public comment, county residents agree that re-examining the role of the chief administrative officer is in order.

``This is probably one of the most important decisions the board is going to make,'' said Penny Boehm, legislative affairs director for the Ventura County Economic Development Association.

The expanded powers being considered include giving interim CAO Harry Hufford the ability to hire and fire department and agency heads and giving him sole power over preparing and presenting the county budget.

He would also be the one to formulate strategy for sensitive policies, such as using the estimated $250 million in tobacco settlement money and to serve as county spokesman for certain issues.

Hufford has said he needs greater authority to do his job, and a weak CAO was among the problems in county government cited by the most recent top administrator who resigned abruptly last fall.

Making comparisons to the leadership dynamics of sports teams, city governments and private corporations, the Board of Supervisors agreed it was time for a change.

But whether those adjustments to the CAO's jurisdiction are temporary and how far they will go, will need to be further discussed, the supervisors said.

``Mr. Hufford being the point guard doesn't mean we all cease acting,'' said Supervisor John Flynn, who compared the board to the Lakers basketball team. ``We'd continue to shoot, but we'd have better accuracy.''

But Supervisor Judy Mikels said she wants the changes to be temporary for now, so the board can be sure that is what it wants.

Supervisor Frank Schillo agreed, but said the increased authority should be a permanent policy before the board starts looking for a permanent CAO, so there is no confusion with the new hire.

The board did not take any action on the discussion, and Hufford will prepare a report on the issue for the board in coming weeks.

Mike Saliba, president of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association, said he agrees the CAO needs increased authority in order to do his job. Saliba suggested the board consider creating the position of chief financial officer within the CAO office, so that the CAO would be in a better position to analyze the budget and make financial projections of several years.

Former Supervisor Ed Jones of Thousand Oaks said he, too, agreed it is time to change the CAO's position in order to increase the efficiency of the board. He said Hufford should be the one to lead the board to the ``promised land.''

``We need a true statesman in Ventura County, who will correct the wrongs, enforce lawful accountability and oversight and truly be a promoter of the public group,'' said Lita Biejo of Moorpark.

Last fall, newly hired CAO David Baker quit after days on the job, citing a lack of central administrative control among the problems in county government.

Baker said the CAO's power was too weak to tackle the county's fiscal problems, which he said leads to business by lobbying rather than through sound policy.

In other action Tuesday, the board unanimously approved end-of-the- fiscal-year budget adjustments that included $5 million in unexpected expenditures that are to be offset in part by $4 million in additional revenue.