To: Board of Supervisors
From: Monica Nino, County Administrator
Report Title: APPOINTMENT OF ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR - BEN WINKLEBLACK
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPOINT Ben Winkleblack as Animal Services Director of Contra Costa County at Step 7 of 9 ($15,971.74 /mo) of the salary range, including all benefits as provided in the current Management Resolution that apply to the position of Animal Services Director, effective May 6, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated annual County cost for the position of Animal Services Director is $331,383 of which $42,859 is attributable to the employer share of pension costs. All costs are budgeted in the General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
On December 6, 2024, former Animal Services Director Beth Ward announced her separation from the County effective January 19, 2024 citing her family's decision to move out of state. Ms. Ward had held the position since November 2015. Subsequently, the Board of Supervisors held a special meeting on January 16, 2024 and appointed Captain Jane Andreotti to the position of Interim Animal Services Director. Captain Andreotti, the longest tenured member of the department's executive staff, was charged with providing leadership to the department while an executive recruitment was conducted to fill the Animal Services Director position permanently.
On January 30, 2024, the executive recruitment was opened for the Animal Services Director and lead by Avery & Associates, a public sector executive recruiting firm. The recruitment was opened using an "open until filled" approach with the first review of applications scheduled for March 1, 2024. With several Animal Services Director recruitments active across the state during this timeframe, this recruitment strategy allowed for continued receipt of inquiries from potential candidates following the initial March 1, 2024 review deadline.
Ultimately, Avery & Associates received 30 appli...
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