Shulman

In a rare move, the performance of Ventura County's mental health director is being evaluated today by the Board of Supervisors in closed session.

Linda Shulman has managed the Behavioral Health Department since the board's firing of the agency's former chief, psychiatrist David Gudeman, in 2002.

The $146,000-a-year administrator has been criticized by some for contract decisions and poor communication in recent weeks, but County Executive Officer Johnny Johnston downplayed the significance of the evaluation. It is one of a series of performance reviews of several managers that he is planning to make with the board, Johnston said.

"I don't think there's anything extraordinary at this point," he said. "Evaluations are evaluations."

Although most department heads report directly to Johnston, a county ordinance establishes that he will be the appointing authority for certain jobs in concurrence with the board.

Others covered by the ordinance include Public Works Director Ron Coons, Agricultural Commissioner Earl McPhail, Chief Probation Officer Karen Staples, Library Director Jackie Griffin, Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin, Public Defender Ken Clayman, Medical Examiner Dr. Ronald O'Halloran and Human Services Agency Director Ted Myers.

As director of a department encompassing psychiatric and drug treatment, Shulman reports to Mike Powers, director of the county Health Care Agency. But as the county's mental health officer, she is accountable to the Board of Supervisors.

Shulman could not be reached for comment Friday or Monday.

Johnston said the upcoming reviews show that he does not hold all the power, contrary to recent complaints from the Ventura County Grand Jury.

"The assumption was they (the managers) are all reporting to me," he said. "That's not true. The Board of Supervisors has tertiary responsibility."

Johnston predicted that the performance reviews would put his goals and those of the board in sync.

He named Coons as another individual who would be reviewed in joint session with the board. Johnston's own review is also approaching.

Such reviews normally are held in closed session because they concern personnel. No announcements are made unless action is taken.

The board will meet at 8:30 a.m. today in the Hall of Administration at the County Government Center in Ventura.