LAKEPORT, Calif. – Eight months after the county's elected treasurer-tax collector stepped down to take an out-of-county job, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed a longtime staffer to fulfill the remainder of the term.
Barbara Ringen, who has been with the county more than two decades and currently serves as chief deputy treasurer-tax collector, received the board's appointment during a brief Tuesday morning discussion.
The need for the appointment arose in March when Sandra Shaul left to take a job with the Marin County Department of Finance, as Lake County News has reported.
Shaul left effective March 10, with the board appointing Kay Lytton, the county's retired treasurer-tax collector, to fill in temporarily beginning March 11.
On May 21 the board considered candidates to serve the remainder of the term, which expires at the end of 2014. In addition to Ringen, they interviewed Sorhna Jordan, Lenord Swope and Allison Hill for the position, continuing the discussing at the June 4 meeting.
During June and July the matter was rescheduled several times and then put it off to a future date while Lytton continued to run the office.
Lytton told the board during its September budget hearing that the department was understaffed, with employees “stretched to the limit.” They were filling the gaps with extra help employees.
On Tuesday Lytton appeared before the board along with Ringen and County Clerk/Auditor-Controller Cathy Saderlund.
County Administrative Officer Matt Perry said Lytton's hours that she's allowed to work under the terms of her retirement are due to expire mid-December. She's reduced her weekly hours in order to extend the time she's available.
Perry said that since the board had last discussed the matter during the summer he had taken action at the board's direction, including speaking to Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office staff.
He said he had confidential discussions with those employees and, as a result, spoke to Ringen about her management practices. Perry said Ringen was anxious and willing to look at ways to improve her management skills.
“I might add that I think everyone has management areas that they can improve upon,” said Perry.
Ringen already has enrolled in an online course offered by the California State Association of Counties, according to Perry.
He said he's also talked to Saderlund to ask if she can offer management assistance and mentoring, and she has agreed.
Perry credited Saderlund – who was appointed by the board in October 2011 to fulfill the unexpired term of Pam Cochrane – with doing a tremendous job of improving her staff's professional skills.
Perry said of Saderlund, “I think she has some experience and some suggestions that could help Barbara in the Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office.”
The board supported putting Ringen in the job.
“I think we know Barbara, we know she's been a valuable employee for many, many years and very loyal to us, and she's been doing the job, essentially,” said Supervisor Rob Brown.
He said she's committed to pursuing the classes, which Ringen confirmed she's already started.
Brown moved to appoint Ringen to fulfill the remainder of the term, receiving a second from Supervisor Jim Comstock.
The board approved the motion unanimously.
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