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Introduction:
Mediator Edward Howden brought in outside experts to help resolve factual disagreements in a water dispute.
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This rough transcript provides a text alternative to audio. We apologize for occasional errors and unintelligible sections (which are marked with ???).
Expert Advice
Edward Howden
Former CRS Mediator, San Fransisco Office
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[Full Interview] Question:
How did you identify the community resources that would help
you resolve your conflict?
Answer:
Well, we used the hydrologist from the state university in that one case, and in that other
case,
involving the county welfare department, outside assistance was very vital there. We needed
clarification about the exact meaning of complex statutes, and federal and state regulations
regarding welfare aid to dependent children and a whole lot of other stuff. Here again, most of
us, certainly myself, and I think most of the community people, were not experts on any of that.
So it was agreed in advance that we would get two experts up from Sacramento to help us. They
were from the State Department of Social Welfare, and each had his or her area of expertise with
respect to the statutes and regulations, and that was agreed to by all sides in advance. They
participated in the sessions, so they were there and could answer if any questions arose as to
what the regulation was.
Question:
So they were there to give factual information?
Answer:
Correct, technical and factual, not to do anything else, and they didn't try to do anything else.
Question:
Were the experts from the welfare department seen as being on one side or the other?
Answer:
No, I don't think so, because we had agreement in advance that said we needed some people
who would call the shots as they were and who were not themselves involved or seen as
involved with the county welfare department.
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