To: Board of Supervisors
From: Ellen McDonnell, Public Defender
Report Title: Reimburse County staff for work completed with Public Defender’s Office
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Auditor-Controller’s Office to issue a one-time payment in the amount of $7,650 for psychological expert services that part-time County employee, Dr. Roberta Gambetti, provided to the Public Defender’s Office (CCPD) as a privately retained expert consultant.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% funded by General Funds.
BACKGROUND:
Between July 17, 2023, and August 24, 2023, the Public Defender’s Office retained Dr. Roberta Gambetti, a clinical psychologist focused on the assessment of children and adolescents to provide expert psychological services as a retained expert for a CCPD juvenile client.
Although Dr. Gambetti began her part-time (20/40) County employment as a Clinical Psychologist on June 7, 2023, she provided expert services to CCPD in her non-County capacity and outside of her work hours as a County employee. Dr. Gambetti is skilled in diagnosing autistic spectrum disorders and learning disabilities and provided services including administering a clinical interview as well as psychological testing, reviewing client records, writing a report, and working closely with a CCPD attorney to assist in the defense of our client.
Because Dr. Gambetti is a current Contra Costa County staff member at the Health Services Department, issuing her a payment for consultant services provided in good faith requires Board authorization. Neither Dr. Gambetti nor County staff were aware that Dr. Gambetti’s part-time employment with the County prevented her from being retained by the County as a private expert services contractor.
Approval of this request will provide the necessary authorization for the Auditor-Controller to pay Dr. Gambetti for the work done in good faith as an independent contractor, in her non-County capacity and outside of her work hours as a part-time County employee.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If not approved, the Public Defender’s Office will not be able to pay Dr. Gambetti for the expert psychological services that she has provided in good faith for our Public Defender client.