County CEO to get more power

Over protests from Supervisor Mike Antonovich, county supervisors Tuesday approved the detailed, $1.7-million plan to transform the county administrator position to a powerful county executive, as well as adding a total of six staff positions to the office.

Still reeling from revelations that a patient died in the waiting area of Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital, supervisors also introduced a related motion to ensure timely and consistent crisis communications from top county officials, in contrast to the reportedly piecemeal information received from health officials after the woman’s death May 9.

An empowered county executive would have authority to hire and fire most non-elected top county officials, with board approval. These department heads would report directly to the appointed CEO rather than the five elected supervisors.

Stressing the preliminary nature of the plan, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky labeled it a “work in progress.” The ordinance, scheduled for a second reading next week, could become permanent in a county charter amendment to go before voters in 2008.

Yaroslavsky and Supervisor Don Knabe proposed transforming the county administrator’s office after two candidates chosen to replace retiring administrator David Janssen rejected the board’s offers. Janssen will leave by the end of the year

The restructuring is designed to streamline government and improve communication between departments to help the county collaboratively tackle problems such as gangs and homelessness.

Antonovich, a vocal critic of the plan, introduced an unsuccessful motion Tuesday attempting to require that certain executive meetings comply with the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law, and to give the incoming CEO input into the office’s structure.

“We’re being asked to spend $1.7 million to create an expanded form of government on a leap of faith,” Antonovich told the board. “In a democratic society, secrecy does not make good government, no matter how efficient it may appear.” He cast the lone vote against the ordinance; his motion died without a second. County attorneys are determining if meetings of the five new deputy chief executives must be open to the public.

Although the new executive plan would bar county supervisors and their staffs from issuing orders to county employees, they can seek information. Janssen explained that supervisors’ constituent relationships would not change. He also said the newly expanded role would help attract candidates for the job; recruitment is underway.

Several supervisors complained of conflicting and delayed reports of the King-Harbor death, and hoped to avoid such problems under the new system.

“Communication fell through the cracks,” Supervisor Gloria Molina said.

“I’m very concerned with how [health officials] are eking out little bits of information. I am not the enemy,” said Molina, who, along with Knabe, introduced the motion to improve communication. “At the end of the day, if they cannot guarantee me ... a safe hospital, then they need to tell me that.”

Janssen acknowledged that supervisors’ notification of the incident was mishandled.

susannah.rosenblatt

@latimes.com