Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/24/2012 06:12:19 PM PDT

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected a proposal to discourage the hiring of illegal immigrants by requiring restaurants to inform customers if they use the federal E-Verify system.

Supervisor Neil Derry proposed amending the county health code to require restaurants to add a green or red overlay to their letter-grading window placards. A green overlay would indicate the restaurant uses the E-Verify system. A red overlay would mean a restaurant does not use the system.

Read the rest of this entry »

Gonzales

Tuesday, April 24, 2012 – 12:15 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 – 03:00 p.m.

In a Romper Room fashion, an embarrassing display of incompetence decended on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors meeting just before noon on Tuesday.

Neither Chairperson Josie Gonzales nor County Counsel Jean-Rene Basle knew Robert’s Rules of Order or their own procedures regarding the conduct of voting among the boards members.

Gonzales is of no surprise. But Basle, a licensed and practicing attorney, is a another story.

Read the rest of this entry »

April 14, 2012 12:00 PM

Natasha Lindstrom, Staff Writer

Just as seven candidates campaign for San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor, union groups are lobbying for a ballot measure that would slash the pay, perks and staffing budgets of the county’s five supervisors.

The San Bernardino County Elected Officials Pay Reduction Act, dubbed the “Part-time Supervisor” initiative, is a proposed charter amendment that would reduce compensation for supervisors from an average of $271,000 to $60,000 annually, and cut their budgets from a total of $6 million to $250,000 per office. Wrightwood resident Kieran “Red” Brennan, a former grand jury member, authored the measure and San Bernardino County Safety Employees Benefit Association President Laren Leichliter spearheaded its petition drive.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/27/2012 03:49:41 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved placing an initiative on the November ballot that would cut their pay by more than two-thirds.

Read the rest of this entry »

Devereaux

Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 03/26/2012 06:31:32 PM PDT

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors met in a special closed session meeting on Monday to evaluate Chief Executive Officer Greg Devereaux’s performance.

Read the rest of this entry »

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 – 09:45 a.m.

An initiative to amend the San Bernardino County charter to reduce the pay, status and staffs of county supervisors is headed to the ballot.

The “Part-Time Pay for Part-Time Work” initiative, a measure backed by county unions, has officially qualified to go before county voters.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/07/2012 04:53:53 PM PST

More than 73,000 signatures were submitted to the Registrar of Voters on Wednesday to qualify the “Part-Time Pay for Part-Time Work” initiative, which would establish a part-time Board of Supervisors, for the November ballot.

Read the rest of this entry »

Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/28/2012 11:01:27 AM PST

San Bernardino County supervisors on Tuesday debated the county’s first-ever attempt to create campaign contribution limits for those running for the Board of Supervisors or other county offices.

Read the rest of this entry »

Will Bigham, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/28/2012 12:05:18 PM PST

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to pay $650,000 to former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer to settle his $15 million wrongful-termination lawsuit.

The settlement was approved on a 3-2 vote after a closed-session discussion, said county spokesman David Wert. The settlement was recommended by the county’s legal counsel.

Read the rest of this entry »

Uffer

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 – 12:50 p.m.

San Bernardino County has settled a lawsuit filed by its former chief executive Tuesday morning.

Read the rest of this entry »

Monday, February 27, 2012 – 08:15 a.m.

The civil trial of a lawsuit filed against San Bernardino County by former chief executive Mark Uffer has been moved again.

Read the rest of this entry »

The San Bernardino County board is spending $2.9million of its discretionary fund this quarter

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 16 February 2012 07:39 PM

San Bernardino County supervisors are spending $2.9 million of their discretionary funds this budgetary quarter, providing money for projects such as a community center in Muscoy and the formation of a county arts council.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/01/2012 02:01:30 PM PST

The labor union representing roughly 11,000 San Bernardino County employees announced Wednesday it will support another union’s effort to reduce county supervisors’ jobs to part-time.

Read the rest of this entry »

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 31 January 2012 11:22 PM

An influential union that is backing a proposed ballot measure to reduce San Bernardino County supervisors’ positions to part-time has more than a half-million dollars in its political action committee fund, according to campaign finance reports released this week.

Read the rest of this entry »

Executive Editor Frank Pine
Created: 01/28/2012 06:06:04 AM PST

San Bernardino County’s Board of Supervisors asked county lawyers last week to draft language for a ballot measure that would give voters the final say on increases to pension benefits for public employees.

Supervisors Janice Rutherford, Gary Ovitt and Josie Gonzales voted yea with supervisors Brad Mitzelfelt and Neil Derry voting nay.

Read the rest of this entry »

Executive Editor Frank Pine
Posted: 01/28/2012 05:38:39 PM PST

San Bernardino County’s Board of Supervisors asked county lawyers last week to draft language for a ballot measure that would give voters the final say on increases to pension benefits for public employees.

Supervisors Janice Rutherford, Gary Ovitt and Josie Gonzales voted yea with supervisors Brad Mitzelfelt and Neil Derry voting nay.

Read the rest of this entry »

Friday, January 27, 2012 – 09:45 a.m.

Well we finally have it.

San Bernardino  County Board of Supervisors Chair Josie Gonzales admits she’s in it for the dough.

Read the rest of this entry »

San Bernardino County supervisors Brad Mitzelfelt, First District; Janice Rutherford, Second District; Neil Derry, Third District; Gary Ovitt, Fourth District; and Josie Gonzales, Fifth District (File photos)

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/25/2012 04:21:42 PM PST

A proposed initiative to make county supervisors’ jobs part-time would spell doom for residents desiring a stronger presence of government in their communities, San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Josie Gonzales said Wednesday.

Read the rest of this entry »

Safety union announces push for part-time supervisors
January 25, 2012 10:31 AM
Natasha Lindstrom, Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO • On a split vote Tuesday morning, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors directed staff to draft a ballot measure that would require voter approval for any future pension increases for county employees.

A few hours later, the county Safety Employees’ Benefit Association announced it was funding an effort to reduce the Board of Supervisors to part-time status.

Read the rest of this entry »

San Bernardino County supervisors Brad Mitzelfelt, First District; Janice Rutherford, Second District; Neil Derry, Third District; Gary Ovitt, Fourth District; and Josie Gonzales, Fifth District (File photos)

Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 01/23/2012 03:05:32 PM PST

The president of San Bernardino County’s most powerful labor union announced Tuesday it is bankrolling an initiative to reduce county supervisors’ jobs to part-time status.

Read the rest of this entry »

Supervisor Josie Gonzales

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 24 January 2012 07:08 PM

San Bernardino County supervisors moved forward Tuesday with a proposal to require voter approval of future pension increases but face opposition from employee unions who quickly announced plans for a competing measure aimed at supervisors.

The board agreed to have county staff draft a ballot measure requiring voter approval before retirement benefits for county employees, legislative officers and elected officials could be increased. But final approval is not assured with supervisors split 3-2 on whether to consider the proposal.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/23/2012 03:37:18 PM PST

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is poised to direct county administrators to draft a ballot measure that would require voter approval for any proposed increases to county employee retirement benefits.

Read the rest of this entry »

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 20 January 2012 10:26 PM

Future retirement benefit increases for San Bernardino County employees could be decided by voters under a proposal that will go before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

Read the rest of this entry »

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 11 January 2012 06:59 AM

San Bernardino County supervisors rolled back their own health and retirement benefits Tuesday, approving a proposal to reduce their compensation by about 18 percent.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 – 11:25 a.m.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, while adopting cuts to their own benefits package, wouldn’t go near a proposal by Third District Supervisor Neil Derry to have the cuts apply to all of the county’s elected officials on Tuesday morning.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 – 08:30 a.m.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will consider slashing their own lavish benefits package Tuesday morning.

A benefits package unmatched anywhere in the state and possibly country.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Mark Gutglueck
Friday, January 6, 2012

Questions continue to dog the second highest ranking member of the county auditor-controller/treasurer-tax collector’s office with regard to the role he and a political action committee he controlled played in illegally passing through and laundering money for those convicted of or charged with participation in a bribery and extortion conspiracy.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Created: 12/21/2011 10:31:20 AM PST

A union representing San Bernardino County public- safety employees has agreed to labor terms proposed by an arbitrator in June that averts 14 percent pay and benefits cuts to certain employees, the county announced Wednesday.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 – 11:15 a.m.

You gotta love it!

San Bernardino County has announced the location of its always much anticipated State of the County event to be held in February 2012.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sunday, December 18, 2011 – 10:50 a.m.

The San Bernardino County Safety Employees’ Benefit Association (SEBA) should reconsider and accept a contract offer from county supervisors.

A contract affecting the union’s Specialized Peace Officer Unit representing Probation Corrections Officers, and Welfare Fraud and Coroner Investigators.

Why?

Read the rest of this entry »

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 16 December 2011 09:49 PM

A union representing San Bernardino County public safety employees will vote again on a previously rejected contract as it faces a possible 14 percent pay and benefit cut.

Read the rest of this entry »

S.B. County supervisors vote to impose reductions on the 380 members of the Specialized Peace Officer unit

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 14 December 2011 06:19 PM

San Bernardino County is planning to impose a 14 percent pay and benefit cut on some public safety employees if they don’t agree to a proposal the union had previously rejected.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/13/2011 06:59:46 PM PST

A group of San Bernardino County public safety employees, including probation officers and district attorney’s investigators, face a 14 percent cut in pay and benefits unless they agree to a previous proposal by the county.

Read the rest of this entry »

Devereaux

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 – 12:01 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 – 01:45 p.m.

You gotta hand it to those crack San Bernardino County lawyers.

Based upon recommendations from CEO Greg Devereaux and, according to him, county attorneys, the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to impose a 14% pay cut to Probation Corrections Officers, Coroner Investigators and Welfare Fraud Investigators.

The classifications make up the Specialized Peace Officer Unit represented by the San Bernardino County Safety Employees Benefit Association (SEBA).

Read the rest of this entry »

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 – 09:25 a.m.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors appear to be on collision course with the San Bernardino County Safety Employees Benefit Association (SEBA).

On Tuesday, a majority of county supervisors intend to reject the advisory award by a neutral arbitrator and impose a one-year contract on Probation Corrections Officer, Coroner Investigator and Welfare Fraud Investigator members in the Specialized Peace Officer Unit represented by SEBA.

An illegal act under the expired agreement.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Josh Dulaney, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 12/12/2011 06:05:49 PM PST

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors today will consider cutting salary and benefits for a group of probation correction officers, a move officials say will result in $3.6million savings annually.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sunday, December 11, 2011 – 09:45 a.m.

The San Bernardno County Board of Supervisors is set to impose a hefty pay cut on the Specialized Peace Officers Unit. A represented by the San Bernardino County Safety Employees’ Benefit Association (SEBA).

A cut of 14%.

Read the rest of this entry »

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 10 December 2011 05:36 PM

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center won’t be joining other hospitals in banning smoking on its grounds, at least for now.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/07/2011 06:13:57 PM PST

Colleagues of San Bernardino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt are accusing him of holding the county’s budget hostage because he is not getting the additional funding for his district that he wants.

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s the second consecutive meeting where they fail to reach an agreement

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 06 December 2011 07:32 PM

San Bernardino County remains unable to pay some of its bills after a second straight meeting where supervisors failed to reach agreement on budget adjustments.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sunday, December 4, 2011 – 12:30 p.m.

Now San Bernardino County supervisors want to cut their benefits package again.

They shouldn’t think twice about.

The benefits package afforded the county’s elected officials is the richest in the state, and can be adjusted by a mere majority vote of the supervisors.

Read the rest of this entry »

The San Bernardino County Sentinel
Published Friday, November 18, 2011

San Bernardino County this week renewed its contract with the controversial Sacramento-based lobbying firm Platinum Advisors, extending the arrangement for the firm to provide legislative advocacy for three years.

Read the rest of this entry »

Friday, November 18, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.

Sometimes you have to count to four.

At least if you want to pass appropriation adjustments through the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.

Yes, the apple cart was been turned over at Tranquility Base this week, when first quarter budget adjustments failed to make it through the board.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Created: 11/15/2011 07:13:37 PM PST

San Bernardino County supervisors are looking to cut the benefits a supervisor can receive by 20 percent.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors directed the County Administrative Office to prepare an ordinance that would do just that.

Read the rest of this entry »

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 15 November 2011 06:40 PM

San Bernardino County supervisors clashed Tuesday over how to split funds that help supplement their staffing costs.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/12/2011 06:12:51 AM PST

The ways money flowed to candidates and political action committees and alleged acts of blackmail are detailed in search warrants in San Bernardino County’s $102 million legal settlement with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP in November 2006.

The warrants, released last week, also describe what led authorities to suspect a county supervisor’s former chief of staff of criminal activity before he became a witness for the prosecution.

Read the rest of this entry »

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 08 November 2011 10:05 AM

Search warrants released as part of a San Bernardino County corruption case detail how the four-year investigation grew from reports of political gifts to allegations of a far-reaching conspiracy involving several top county officials and a prominent developer.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Created: 11/07/2011 06:53:01 PM PST

The remaining search warrants served in a sweeping corruption probe involving a legal settlement between the county and a Rancho Cucamonga developer were released Monday.

Read the rest of this entry »

Layoff discussion emerges in internal memo.

Saturday, November 5, 2011 – 12:01 p.m.

What a shocker!

The “L” word finally emerged in San Bernardino County government last month.

Read the rest of this entry »

Supervisor Gary Ovitt

Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Created: 10/19/2011 06:33:01 PM PDT

CHINO HILLS – This city has gained the attention of the Public Utilities Commission.

Members of the commission, including its president and a board member, recently visited the city to inspect the construction of 200-foot high-voltage power lines by Southern California Edison.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tuesday, October 11, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.

It’s been no secret that someone has wanted San Bernardino County Supervisors Neil Derry and Brad Mitzelfelt gone.

Now it’s crystal clear.

Read the rest of this entry »

Friday, October 7, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.

The civil trial of a lawsuit filed by former county executive Mark Uffer against San Bernardino County has been continued at the request of both parties.

Read the rest of this entry »

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 04 October 2011 08:48 PM

San Bernardino County Chief Executive Officer Greg Devereaux is facing fallout over remarks two supervisors say mischaracterize their opposition to his budget plan.

Read the rest of this entry »

San Bernardino County is making changes but on a narrow margin, Greg Devereaux says

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 03 October 2011 09:55 PM

San Bernardino County supervisors need to be willing to stand up to employee unions to solve a $134 million budget gap the county will face over the next five years, Chief Executive Officer Greg Devereaux said Monday.

Read the rest of this entry »

Monday, October 3, 2011 – 05;30 a.m.

You’ve gotta hand it to the San Bernardino County Board  of Supervisors for their campaign finance reform proposals.

The biggest idea is a cap on contributions to the candidates or officials themselves.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:40 PM PDT on Wednesday, September 28, 2011

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Despite court setbacks, a proposed open-air sludge composting facility near the high desert town of Hinkley has once again won approval from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.

On Tuesday, the board voted 3-1, with Supervisor Neil Derry absent and Chairwoman Josie Gonzales opposed, to certify the Nursery Products environmental report for the third time.

The Nursery Products project was first approved by the board in 2007, but a Superior Court judge ordered the county to overturn its approval after finding part of the original environmental impact report was flawed.

Supervisors certified the project study again last year after conducting additional environmental reports.

In April, a judge found the report still inadequate.

The sole remaining issue ordered by the court was a water study showing the project would have a proper supply, said Jim Squire, a planning consultant for the county. A water study by a county hydrologist making those findings was part of the board approval.

To read entire story, click here.

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 09/27/2011 12:42:57 PM PDT

A proposal to limit how much money groups can give to candidates seeking county elected office was unanimously approved Tuesday by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.

The vote gives staff the go-ahead to prepare an ordinance placing a cap on campaign contributions.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 09/27/2011 07:15:14 PM PDT

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $27.6 million plan for the Probation Department to begin monitoring and providing services to low-level parolees beginning Saturday.

Read the rest of this entry »

Rutherford

Saturday, September 17, 2011 – 11:00 a.m.

Now allegations emerge on back door deal proposals over San Bernardino County redistricting.

It never ends.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Neil Nisperos Staff Writer
Created: 09/16/2011 03:44:42 PM PDT

Amid accusations of behind-the-scenes dealings, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Friday approved a redistricting plan that keeps mountain communities split into two districts and moves Barstow into the same district as Redlands.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Created: 09/12/2011 02:21:30 PM PDT

From our archive: Grand Jury questions management practices at San Bernardino airport

San Bernardino County supervisors apparently agree with the Grand Jury that their benefits are excessive but disagree that a conflict was created when the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s and Auditor-Controller’s offices were merged in 2010.

Read the rest of this entry »

Thursday, August 25, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.

Three measures filed by the newly-formed Committee to Reform San Bernardino County Government, in an effort to reform San Bernardino County government, are apparently being viewed as partially flawed by county lawyers.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sunday, August 21, 2011 – 09:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, August 21, 2011 – 11:25 a.m.

A part-time San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors?

It’s highly unlikely. But you never know.

Read the rest of this entry »

William R. Snaer
Created: 08/13/2011 07:07:11 AM PDT

Political philosophers call it the Principle of Subsidiarity, the idea that tasks of governing should be managed by the lowest level of government possible. This approach is best because the decision-makers are closest to the people and are most responsive to their concerns. City and county governments listen to voters more closely than the federal government.

Read the rest of this entry »

Cassie MacDuff

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Cassie MacDuff

Over 25 years of covering government, I am still amazed when elected officials make decisions that fly in the face of overwhelming public opinion.

Last month, the Redlands City Council did it, voting 3-1 to sell a historic packinghouse to a developer who wants to demolish it, despite scores of residents pleading in person, by letter and by email to save it.

Read the rest of this entry »

Rutherford

Wednesday, August 10, 2011 – 10:30 a.m.

Let them eat cake!

That was the response by three San Bernardino County supervisors during a redistricting meeting on Tuesday.

Read the rest of this entry »

S.B. County: Supervisors’ favored remapping option puts more of those communities among two districts.
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

A divided San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday selected a draft map of new political boundaries that will move more of the San Bernardino Mountains into the 2nd District.

Read the rest of this entry »

Monday, August 8, 2011 – 02:25 p.m.

The latest disclosure filings by San Bernardino County’s public employee unions reflects a continued build-up of political action money from last years levels.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted: Thursday, August 4, 2011 9:52 am

Mountain residents have yet another opportunity to travel down to the Covington Chambers at the county government center to make their voices heard on the supervisorial redistricting process.

Read the rest of this entry »

Settlement talks heat up after trip
Created: 08/06/2011 09:42:20 PM PDT

In September 2005, then-San Bernardino County Supervisor Bill Postmus returned from a trip to China insistent the county settle a land-rights lawsuit with a Rancho Cucamonga developer that spanned more than three years.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bill Postmus

Supervisor focused on support for settlement
Mike Cruz and Joe Nelson, Staff Writers
Posted: 08/03/2011 09:17:44 PM PDT

A move to expedite a settlement with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP in 2006 backfired on Bill Postmus, the chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors at the time.

Read the rest of this entry »

Agency fixes up foreclosed homes
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/30/2011 07:11:33 AM PDT

San Bernardino County has terminated its financial relationship with the Inland Empire Economic Recovery Corp., an entity the county government subsidized during the worst of the recession to rehabilitate foreclosed homes.

Read the rest of this entry »

Supervisor Gary Ovitt

Supervisor says Kirk didn’t control his office
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 07/26/2011 05:28:51 PM PDT

Grand Jury testimony released Friday does not accurately portray who was in charge in the county’s 4th District, according to Supervisor Gary Ovitt.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Monday, July 25, 2011

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

In fall 2005, then-San Bernardino County Supervisor Bill Postmus returned from a trip to China a changed man.

Read the rest of this entry »

Grand Jury papers reveal tensions
Mike Cruz and Sandra Emerson, Staff Writers
Created: 07/25/2011 08:23:19 PM PDT

In San Bernardino County’s 4th District, the chief of staff ran the show, according to Grand Jury testimony released last week.

Read the rest of this entry »