The resource management agency of the county of Madera is created as a comprehensive local agency to administer, coordinate and oversee the development and implementation of policies and regulations concerning land use planning, engineering and general services, public works, special district services, roads and transportation, parks and recreation activities, and environmental health, except insofar as environmental health functions as the local enforcement agency (LEA) for solid waste. LEA functions will not be within the resource management agency but will remain subject to oversight and supervision by the county administrative officer (CAO). Neither the resource management director, nor any department head within the resource management agency other than the environmental health director may direct, control, hire or fire any employees of the LEA. Should any LEA supervisors have job duties split between a position within RMA and LEA, he or she shall only discuss substantive LEA issues with LEA employees or employees within the CAO’s office. The powers and duties of the constituent departments of the resource management agency are as set forth in state law and the Madera county code. The constituent departments of the resource management agency are the planning department, road department, department of engineering and general services, environmental health department and such other departments as the board of supervisors may designate. (Ord. 585B § 1, 2005: Ord. 585 § 1(part), 2002).

The office of resource management agency director is created. The director shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the board of supervisors. The director shall direct and oversee the operations of the component departments of the resource management agency subject to the direction of the board of supervisors and in compliance with state law and local rules. (Ord. 585 § 1(part), 2002).

The director shall:
A. Act as agent of, and be responsible to, the board of supervisors in all matters pertaining to the efficient administration of such affairs of the constituent departments of the resource management agency as may be designated by this chapter or the board of supervisors, except as limited by the provisions of Section 2.20.035 of this chapter; pertaining to the LEA function of the environmental health department. Those functions shall remain subject to the provisions of Sections 2.20.010 and 2.20.035 of the Madera County Code;
B. Enforce all ordinances, resolutions, orders, directives and regulations of the board of supervisors as may be directed by the board;
C. Recommend an annual county budget for the constituent departments of the agency and exercise budgetary oversight for those departments;
D. Recommend a long-term plan of capital improvements accompanied by pertinent financial data and recommendations as to methods of financing;
E. Recommend improved and standardized processes and procedures for the constituent departments;
F. Recommend desirable consolidations or rearrangements of departments and functions to promote efficiency and economy therein;
G. Conduct continuous research in administrative policies and practices, and make recommendations to the board of supervisors as to the adoption of such policies and practices as will further the orderly, efficient and economic conduct of the business of the resource management agency;
H. Subject to the authority and duties of the purchasing agent, make recommendations as to the purchasing of property, equipment and supplies; and
I. Direct such central administrative services as may be placed under the direction of the resource management agency director by the board of supervisors. (Ord. 585B § 2, 2005: Ord. 585 § 1(part), 2002).

The resource management agency director shall have no power to control or direct the activities of the director of environmental health or any employee of that office in the performance of the functions of the local enforcement agency, nor shall the resource management agency director evaluate or contribute to the evaluation of the director of environmental health or any employee of that office insofar as that evaluation is based in whole or in part in the performance of the functions of the local enforcement agency. (Ord. 585B § 3, 2005).

The resource management agency director (director) shall provide administrative direction to and exercise, as necessary, the board of supervisors’ authority to supervise the operations of the constituent departments; evaluate those departments and department heads at least annually, make recommendations for salary adjustments and to assist the board of supervisors in the hiring and termination of department heads under agency control and consistent with the mission and duties of the agency and the agency director as heretofore stated. The board of supervisors retains authority to recruit for, hire and terminate agency department heads with the assistance and counsel of the director. As a part of the selection process, the director shall be asked for and shall provide to the board his or her recommendations concerning the appointment of and salary and benefits for such department heads. (Ord. 585A § 1, 2004: Ord. 585 § 1(part), 2002).

To assist in carrying out the powers and duties herein vested in the resource management agency director, the director may call upon any county officer or employee to perform any act which such officer or employee is legally authorized to perform including the furnishing of any statistical data or other reports required. (Ord. 585 § 1(part), 2002).

There is created in the resource management agency the position of deputy director of the resource management agency. The deputy director shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the board of supervisors, subject to consultation between the board of supervisors and the director of the resource management agency. The deputy director shall report directly to the director, and shall possess all of the powers and duties of the director in the event of the absence or temporary disability of the director. The deputy director shall direct and oversee the operations of the component departments of the resource management agency at the discretion of the director. The deputy director shall be a department head subject to the delegated authority described at Section 2.20.040 of this code. (Ord. 585-C §1, 2006).