County Updates Its Structure

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to reorganize Orange County’s government structure, a change that the county’s top executive said will save money and streamline government.

James D. Ruth, the county’s executive officer, told supervisors that the plan will give him more time to focus on larger issues by reducing from 17 to seven the number of top managers who report directly to him.

The board is also placing labor contract negotiations under the county financial officer’s supervision instead of the human resources manager, after recent criticism of the human resources department by the grand jury.

The grand jury alleged in a report last year that the county had been too generous in negotiating salaries and benefits with the unions that represent many of the county’s more than 17,000 employees.

Ruth said he hoped that Fred Branca, the county’s chief financial officer, would be able to give supervisors a better understanding of the financial impact of labor contracts.

Supervisor Tom Wilson said he supported the changes because they will make the county operation more efficient. Under the new structure, the planning and environmental departments will be combined. The new Resource and Development Management Department will issue both building and environmental permits.

The county also will eliminate eight vacant positions in its executive office, saving $513,000 annually, Ruth said.