The Colusa County Board of Supervisors decided last week not to fill the county’s highest paid position, but not for the lack of trying.
Human Resources Director Jolene Church said attempts to recruit a salaried psychiatrist to replace Dr. Gerardo Toribio have failed, despite recruitment postings nationwide since before Toribio retired on Dec. 31, 2021.
“We have really exhausted all efforts – and ended up having some interesting conversations with professionals,” Church said. “Since I have been with this county, I have not had to pull on every private sector recruitment technique that I am aware of.”
The board on March 29, eliminated the civil service psychiatrist position, which would pay $544,057 per year in salary and benefits, after Church aggressively tried to recruit licensed professionals directly, in addition to outreach through all the normal networks.
“Nothing,” she said. “We’ve received nothing.”
Church said after discussions with Behavior Health staff and County Administrative Officer Wendy Tyler, her recommendation was to contract the services with private providers permanently.
Since Dr. Torbio’s departure, Behavioral Health has contracted psychiatric services through Kings View Behavioral Health Systems, and it is possible they could stay on indefinitely.
Supervisors voted 5-0 to eliminate the psychiatrist position and have staff issue a request for proposals to contract the services permanently to provide services to low income individuals and children.
By contracting, Church said Behavioral Health’s various providers would work the contracted amount of hours without being confined to a full-time job.
County officials said the cost to contract the services is unknown at this time, but they expect the annual total not to exceed a fully benefited, highly-compensated civil service position, and could, in fact, save the taxpayers money. ■