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The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has a lot of issues with Sheriff Christina Corpus, but now they added one more: her spending.
“This is from Sheriff Corpus and she is not here,” said county Supervisor Jackie Speier at the board’s April 22 meeting.
The board had a $4 million fund transfer request to the Sheriff’s Office for the purchase of new radios on the consent agenda, where routine items are put to be approved without board discussion. However, Speier pulled the items off the consent agenda at the beginning of the meeting to request Corpus present that item.
Two hours later, when the board went to discuss it, Speier learned that Corpus had sent Undersheriff Dan Perea in her absence.
“[Corpus] had another meeting,” Perea said.
“We expect department heads to appear when they have issues before the board of supervisors. The fact that she is unavailable is disappointing,” Speier said.
While the board was only set to approve the fund transfer for radios, Speier said she was concerned about the Sheriff’s Office’s entire procurement process.
“… I have been made aware that there have been 10 message chairs that were requested through procurement,” Speier said. “Now it was declined– thankfully– by the office of procurement, but I think there needs to be a holistic look at how you do your procurement process in your department.”
The Sheriff’s Office claims it purchased two massage chairs for employee wellness and did not request any more.
“To enhance employee wellness, the Sheriff’s Office recently purchased two massage chairs for employees, using funds earmarked for wellness. At this time, the Sheriff’s Office does not intend to purchase additional massage chairs,” said Sheriff’s Office Director of Communications Gretchen Spiker.
San Mateo County Chief Communications Officer Michelle Durand confirmed that the county approved the purchase of two massage chairs. However, Durand said the Sheriff’s Office requested an additional nine chairs, which the county denied.
The Sheriff’s Office did not respond in time for publication about whether additional chairs were requested.
A spokesperson for both Sheriff’s unions said neither was involved in the purchase of the chairs.
Supervisor Ray Mueller said he also had concerns about Corpus’ reported purchase of a custom $74,000 conference table with cooling fans, vents and lockable doors.
In the meantime, the board approved the $4 million fund transfer for the radios, which had already been purchased. The Sheriff’s Office claims its current radios are no longer serviced by the manufacturer and it does not have enough radios.
The board requested Corpus appear at a future meeting to discuss the Sheriff’s Office’s procurement process.
Corpus doesn’t want to be accountable. Now she’s brought her boyfriend Ainlle back as a reserve deputy. This woman is a piece of work. The supervisors need to pick up the pace on her removal before she does even more damage.
Agreed , Thanks
From personal experience, I don’t care for Victor Ainlle. What a shame that the Sheriff’s department has turn into the drama department .
What is a “message” chair? I think you meant “massage” chair.
I’m a little afraid to here the answer but when does a conference table need fans and vents?