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...
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