Ventura County Government Agencies

Ventura County's two waste-management agencies on Thursday endorsed proposed state legislation that would allow the county to disband them and create a single trash authority. The Solid Waste Management Department and the Ventura Regional Sanitation District voted Wednesday to support the legislation, which would give a new authority the power to make all trash-related decisions. Sponsored by state Sen.

An embarrassed child welfare chief confirmed Monday at least three cases in which her staff told residents their allegations of child abuse couldn't be investigated because a hiring freeze had stretched staff too thin. Human Services Agency Director Barbara Fitzgerald said she has never sanctioned, and intends to put an immediate end to, the use of such an approach as a strategy to lift a hiring freeze on county employees.

Ventura County social service officials have cleaned up a barrage of problems in the county's welfare fraud unit, according to a county report. County Chief Administrative Officer Richard Wittenberg, who prepared a report for the Board of Supervisors, said social service officials have made "significant progress in improving the effectiveness" of the 14-person unit. Last year, the grand jury concluded that workers in the unit were poorly trained and suffered from low productivity.

The head of Ventura County's largest animal-protection agency Friday hailed a new federal law banning the sale of animal cruelty videos, calling it a major victory for animal rights. President Clinton has signed into law a measure making it a crime to profit from the interstate sale of so-called "crush videos" that typically depict women--often in spike heels--crushing small animals to death.

The East County Jail, where prisoners from Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks are booked and temporarily held, is a likely candidate for closure as part of the $3.5 million to $5 million in budget cuts the Sheriff's Department will offer up to the county, officials said Friday. Sheriff Larry Carpenter is about two weeks away from finalizing the list of cuts requested by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to reduce his department's budget by 7.

The head of Ventura County's largest animal-protection agency Friday hailed a new federal law banning the sale of animal cruelty videos, calling it a major victory for animal rights. President Clinton has signed into law a measure making it a crime to profit from the interstate sale of so-called "crush videos" that typically depict women--often in spike heels--crushing small animals to death.

Fearing that Ventura County's libraries could lose half their funding this year, the county's library director has proposed that 50 employees be laid off and that 15 branches drastically slash the hours they are open. The proposed budget cuts, unveiled this week by Dixie Adeniran, director of the county's Library Services Agency, could take effect as early as July. Library administrators said the proposed cutbacks are necessary because Gov. Pete Wilson wants the state to make up part of its $8.

An embarrassed child welfare chief confirmed Monday at least three cases in which her staff told residents their allegations of child abuse couldn't be investigated because a hiring freeze had stretched staff too thin. Human Services Agency Director Barbara Fitzgerald said she has never sanctioned, and intends to put an immediate end to, the use of such an approach as a strategy to lift a hiring freeze on county employees.

Dona and James Perry are a foster child's dream. Their yard is filled with jungle gyms, a trampoline, chickens, pigs and fruit trees. Their house is a happy jumble of toys, bicycles and clothing. Children dash through the rooms and cartwheel across the back lawn. Four-year-old Rikki--who came to the Perrys three years ago with a fractured skull and signs of autism--dangles upside-down on a bar like a monkey, giggling and chewing gum.

A budget committee of top-ranking Ventura County officials recommended on Thursday that the supervisors adopt a four-day workweek for county employees beginning as early as May 23. The compressed workweek would leave most county offices closed one day a week, probably Fridays, saving at least $650,000 a year, officials said.

The head of Ventura County's largest animal protection agency Friday hailed a new federal law banning the sale of animal cruelty videos, calling it a major victory for animal rights. President Clinton has signed into law a measure making it a crime to profit from the interstate sale of so-called "crush videos" that typically depict women--often in spike heels--crushing small animals to death.

Ventura County Supervisor Frank Schillo announced Tuesday the appointment of two members to the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council. David Chatfield and Glen Wilcox were selected after a lengthy interview process to serve four-year terms on the council that advises the supervisor on local issues. Chatfield is an attorney and a past president of the Hillcrest Homeowners Assn. He and his wife, Cinda, have three children in the Oak Park School District.

Dona and James Perry are a foster child's dream. Their yard is filled with jungle gyms, a trampoline, chickens, pigs and fruit trees. Their house is a happy jumble of toys, bicycles and clothing. Children dash through the rooms and cartwheel across the back lawn. Four-year-old Rikki--who came to the Perrys three years ago with a fractured skull and signs of autism--dangles upside-down on a bar like a monkey, giggling and chewing gum.

Ventura County's two waste-management agencies on Thursday endorsed proposed state legislation that would allow the county to disband them and create a single trash authority. The Solid Waste Management Department and the Ventura Regional Sanitation District voted Wednesday to support the legislation, which would give a new authority the power to make all trash-related decisions. Sponsored by state Sen.

Ventura County social service officials have cleaned up a barrage of problems in the county's welfare fraud unit, according to a county report. County Chief Administrative Officer Richard Wittenberg, who prepared a report for the Board of Supervisors, said social service officials have made "significant progress in improving the effectiveness" of the 14-person unit. Last year, the grand jury concluded that workers in the unit were poorly trained and suffered from low productivity.

The Ventura County Fish and Game Commission is considering a funding proposal that would allow the county to hire a lawyer to resume full prosecution of fish and game violations. The commission has scheduled a special April 28 meeting on the proposal, which it endorsed in concept Thursday. The commission's vote will be forwarded to the County Board of Supervisors, which makes the final decision on the proposal by the district attorney's office.

Oxnard officials agreed Thursday to give up development of the city's recycling plant only if it can be proven that another facility would handle western Ventura County's trash more efficiently. It also agreed to turn over control of its plant to the county if a new countywide Waste Management Authority, now merely in the planning stages, chooses Oxnard as the site for a plant to serve the western Ventura County wasteshed.

The head of Ventura County's largest animal protection agency Friday hailed a new federal law banning the sale of animal cruelty videos, calling it a major victory for animal rights. President Clinton has signed into law a measure making it a crime to profit from the interstate sale of so-called "crush videos" that typically depict women--often in spike heels--crushing small animals to death.

The East County Jail, where prisoners from Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks are booked and temporarily held, is a likely candidate for closure as part of the $3.5 million to $5 million in budget cuts the Sheriff's Department will offer up to the county, officials said Friday. Sheriff Larry Carpenter is about two weeks away from finalizing the list of cuts requested by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to reduce his department's budget by 7.

Fearing that Ventura County's libraries could lose half their funding this year, the county's library director has proposed that 50 employees be laid off and that 15 branches drastically slash the hours they are open. The proposed budget cuts, unveiled this week by Dixie Adeniran, director of the county's Library Services Agency, could take effect as early as July. Library administrators said the proposed cutbacks are necessary because Gov. Pete Wilson wants the state to make up part of its $8.