LAKE COUNTY >> The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved a temporary reduction in hours of operation for two museums Tuesday.
The Historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport, as well as the Lower Lake Museum, will be closed on Sundays.
Before Tuesdays decision, the museums were open from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
During its Oct. 28 meeting, the board discussed the request from Lake County Public Services Director Caroline Chavez to curtail regular hours. Donna Howard, the key staff member of the museum on Sundays, is retiring. Staffing the hours left vacant is an issue. Chavez also cited thefts and squatters in the museum as reason to limit hours.
Additionally, Chavez has been searching for a new assistant curator for the museum. “It is tough when you lose such a great employee as that,” District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith said. Howard had extensive knowledge, which made her a valuable resource to the operation of the museum , Chavez said. Part of the issue with finding a replacement is finding someone as knowledgeable as Howard, as well as training them for the position. The new limited operating hours are temporary, with plans to reopen on Sundays until at least March.
This will “allow staff to recruit, background check and train a 10-hour per week extra help employee,” as well as hire a new curator.
Chavez said that approximately 50 applications have been received for the position, 40 of which are from out-of-state applicants. The position is a term position, which lasts until May.
“I am ready to offer the position to a candidate,” Chavez said.
When the issue is brought back before the BOS next year, Chavez said she would like them to consider making the curator position permanent.
“If it is a temporary position, everyone is in a holding pattern,” Rushing said.
The use of volunteer staff was discussed as an option to maintain hours of operation, as well as finding extra help employees not over their weekly limit.
Chavez said it is difficult to get volunteers to commit time.
“You”re on their time,” she said.
Currently, the museum has four extra help volunteers who work six hours for three days a week. Extra help employees are not allowed to exceed 900 hours each year.
The board approved the decrease in hours with a 3-1 vote, with Rushing dissenting. District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington was absent from the meeting.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
