The Record Searchlight, Redding, CA - Tehama County Amends Decoration Policy
November 29, 2007
By Tim Hearden. Record Searchlight
RED BLUFF -- Tehama County employees can display Santa Claus anywhere and can show religious symbols in their private offices and cubicles, according to new guidelines issued Wednesday.
Public areas such as cubicles where case workers meet with clients must still remain religiously neutral, the guidelines said. But "inclusive messages" such as "happy holidays" and "season's greetings," lights, decorated trees, wreaths, Santas, sleighs and reindeer are acceptable in lobbies, conference rooms and other public areas.
Chief administrator Bill Goodwin sent the guidelines to county employees to quell a controversy over his earlier directive that county offices refrain from displaying Santa or other images specific to Christmas.
Goodwin told county supervisors Tuesday that Santa had been considered secular in court rulings and thus was acceptable in office displays. He and County Counsel Will Murphy met with department leaders later Tuesday to develop the new guidelines for decorations.
"I regret the confusion caused when I distributed a unique department's directive regarding Christmas decorations as a model for others without complete explanation at a recent department head meeting," Goodwin wrote in the memo to employees. "Clearly one size does not fit all in our diverse operations."
The new policy pleased the Rev. Ron Fortenberry, a local church pastor and law enforcement chaplain who had complained that the earlier directive contradicted court rulings regarding religious expression.
"I think that (new policy) is acceptable because you're giving the employees the right to express religiously their feeling, so I'm good with that," said Fortenberry, pastor of Bethel Assembly of God Church in Red Bluff. "That way, the Jewish people can put up their menorahs and Christians can put up Christmas or a Nativity. If it's a public area, then OK, it's a public area."
Fortenberry said he'll still pursue getting a Nativity scene into the historic courthouse. He has sought the help of the American Center for Law and Justice, a Christian religious liberties law firm, to get the Nativity erected, he said.
The no-Santa policy was first issued by Social Services Director Christine Applegate in October and was later passed to other departments.
The restriction prompted a letter of protest from Stationary Engineers Local 39 in Red Bluff, arguing that the policy was a unilateral change in working conditions for its 150 members who work in the social services department.
Robert Belgeri, the union's business representative, said Wednesday he hadn't yet seen the new guidelines and couldn't comment on them.
By Tim Hearden. Record Searchlight
RED BLUFF -- Tehama County employees can display Santa Claus anywhere and can show religious symbols in their private offices and cubicles, according to new guidelines issued Wednesday.
Public areas such as cubicles where case workers meet with clients must still remain religiously neutral, the guidelines said. But "inclusive messages" such as "happy holidays" and "season's greetings," lights, decorated trees, wreaths, Santas, sleighs and reindeer are acceptable in lobbies, conference rooms and other public areas.
Chief administrator Bill Goodwin sent the guidelines to county employees to quell a controversy over his earlier directive that county offices refrain from displaying Santa or other images specific to Christmas.
Goodwin told county supervisors Tuesday that Santa had been considered secular in court rulings and thus was acceptable in office displays. He and County Counsel Will Murphy met with department leaders later Tuesday to develop the new guidelines for decorations.
"I regret the confusion caused when I distributed a unique department's directive regarding Christmas decorations as a model for others without complete explanation at a recent department head meeting," Goodwin wrote in the memo to employees. "Clearly one size does not fit all in our diverse operations."
The new policy pleased the Rev. Ron Fortenberry, a local church pastor and law enforcement chaplain who had complained that the earlier directive contradicted court rulings regarding religious expression.
"I think that (new policy) is acceptable because you're giving the employees the right to express religiously their feeling, so I'm good with that," said Fortenberry, pastor of Bethel Assembly of God Church in Red Bluff. "That way, the Jewish people can put up their menorahs and Christians can put up Christmas or a Nativity. If it's a public area, then OK, it's a public area."
Fortenberry said he'll still pursue getting a Nativity scene into the historic courthouse. He has sought the help of the American Center for Law and Justice, a Christian religious liberties law firm, to get the Nativity erected, he said.
The no-Santa policy was first issued by Social Services Director Christine Applegate in October and was later passed to other departments.
The restriction prompted a letter of protest from Stationary Engineers Local 39 in Red Bluff, arguing that the policy was a unilateral change in working conditions for its 150 members who work in the social services department.
Robert Belgeri, the union's business representative, said Wednesday he hadn't yet seen the new guidelines and couldn't comment on them.