1. A county cluster board shall be established in each cluster. The purpose of a cluster board is to improve communication and coordination between the department and the counties, advise the department on the placement of field service staff serving the cluster based on criteria of funded client caseweight, client need, utilization of existing space within each of the county offices, and effective service delivery. In addition, the board shall make recommendations to the county boards of supervisors concerning the equitable distribution of support costs of departmental staff.
2. Not more than five cluster board members shall be appointed for one-year terms by each of the county boards of supervisors of the counties comprising the county cluster. The following requirements apply to the appointments made by a county board of supervisors: the membership shall be appointed in accordance with section 69.16, relating to political affiliation, and section 69.16A, relating to gender balance; not more than three members shall be members of the board of supervisors; and appointments shall be made on the basis of interest in public affairs, good judgment, and knowledge and ability in the field of human services. Appointments shall be made a part of the regular proceedings of the board of supervisors and shall be filed with the county auditor and the county cluster administrator. A vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The boards of supervisors shall develop and agree to other organizational provisions involving the cluster board including reporting requirements.
3. The department shall determine the community in which the county office will be located. The county board of supervisors shall determine the location of the office space for the county office. The county board of supervisors shall make reasonable efforts to colocate the office with other state and local governmental or private entity offices in order to maintain the offices in a cost-effective location that is convenient to the public.
4. The county cluster board shall act in an advisory capacity on programs within the jurisdiction of the department. The board shall review policies and procedures of the local departments of human services and make recommendations for changes to ensure that effective services are provided in the respective communities. The board may also make recommendations for new programs which it is believed could meet needs in the community. The board shall not duplicate the efforts of other county planning entities required by the state by performing reviews and developing recommendations concerning services to persons with mental illness, mental retardation, developmental disabilities, and brain injury. The department shall establish a procedure to ensure that county cluster board recommendations receive appropriate review at the level of policy determination. In addition, a county cluster board shall perform emergency relief functions in accordance with section 251.5.
92 Acts, ch 1079, § 2; 93 Acts, ch 54, § 2
Referred to in § 251.3, 251.5, 252.6, 331.321
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