Commission for Behavioral Health holds closed-session screening for executive director; public asked for clearer closed-session end notices

Chair Jay Robinson opened a special meeting of the Executive Director Screening Committee of the Commission for Behavioral Health and moved the committee into a closed session “to review, consider, and recommend candidates for the vacant ED appointment.”

The meeting included a brief public-comment period before the closed session. Mariani, a commission staff member, explained public-comment procedures and said, “We currently do not have any public comments.” Later Mariani announced there was one public commenter online.

Stacy Hiramoto, speaking for Remco, the Racial and Ethnic Mental Health Disparities Coalition, asked the commission to give clearer information to remote attendees when it enters and leaves closed session. Hiramoto said, “When you go into closed session, if you're going to end early or late, could you put that on the screen, that shows for the public so when people check-in, to see if there's any announcements or if the meeting is closed up, we're able to not just stay on for or if you go early and we come in, you're late.”

Commission staff instructed commissioners joining remotely to exit the current meeting and join a separate closed-session link; the meeting host said publicly that the committee planned to return at 4:15 p.m. After the closed session, the committee reported back to the open meeting and stated that no action had been taken during the closed session.

The meeting record noted procedural rules including a quorum requirement (a minimum of five commissioners present) and a three-minute limit for public comments. A technical-support phone number for commission staff, (916) 500-0577, was given for members of the public with questions about participation.