Mental Health Officials Boycott Meeting in Protest

VENTURA — Outraged over the dismissal of the panel’s chairman, executive officers of Ventura County’s Mental Health Board did not show up for a scheduled meeting Monday, forcing its cancellation.

The advisory panel’s executive members are infuriated by a vote of the Board of Supervisors last week removing Chairman John Chaudier from his post and decided to skip Monday’s meeting in protest, said Susan Kelly, another panel member.

Supervisors John K. Flynn, Judy Mikels and Frank Schillo voted Sept. 14 to remove Chaudier from the Mental Health Board even though a majority on the community advisory panel recommended that he be reappointed to a third term.

Shlomo Kreitzer, secretary of the Mental Health Board, said he would ask the supervisors today to reconsider.

Although a quorum of the 10-member board was present for Monday’s meeting, panel members decided to postpone its meeting until Sept. 27 so that the full board can be present when a new chairman is chosen.

The county’s mental health system has been in tumult since last year, when supervisors combined mental health and social service agencies. The county is still dealing with fallout from that decision, including paying a $15.3-million settlement to the federal government for improper health billings.