Following public outcry over the findings of a recent San Bernardino County grand jury report, beleaguered Assessor Bill Postmus is being summoned before the Board of Supervisors to answer questions about how he has been running his office.

During an uncomfortable and tense meeting Tuesday, the supervisors took steps to improve government accountability and weighed their options for removing Postmus, an elected official, from office.

A grand jury report released June 30 criticized the Assessor's Office, saying it was misusing taxpayer money, engaging in political activity and had an executive staff whose role has little to do with daily operations.

An investigation by the District Attorney's Office, still ongoing, has led to the arrest of the assessor's top assistant, Adam Aleman, who has been charged with six felonies and subsequently resigned.

Chairman Paul Biane asked Postmus to come before the board Aug. 19, after county counsel advised the board that removing an elected official could take up to two years and cost up to $1 million.

"Today, that is really the only option available to us," Biane said of his request. "The sooner the assessor can come before the board and address those issues, the better."

Although the board can ask for an appearance, it has no power to require the elected official to appear, said County Counsel Ruth Stringer.

If Postmus doesn't show up, "we can explore other options," Biane said.

It is unclear whether Postmus will appear before the board.

"Assessor Postmus is consulting his calendar to determine if an appearance by the Assessor on 19 August is possible," his spokesman, Ted Lehrer, wrote by e-mail.

In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Postmus said, "The Office of County Assessor is moving forward with several points for reform as delineated by the San Bernardino County Civil Grand Jury. ... I look forward to working with the Board of Supervisors in implementing many of the grand jury's recommendations and making improvements where needed."

As the supervisors considered their options Tuesday morning, Stringer cautioned that the process for removing an elected official has many steps and the burden of proof required to remove Postmus would be difficult to meet.

"It's a very arduous process, a very complicated process," Stringer said. "As of today, we would not recommend the board proceeding."

Stringer also advised the board that it cannot discipline an elected official, but it can issue a letter of criticism. The last time the board censured an official was in 2001 when it sent a letter to then-District Attorney Dennis Stout.

Of the 14 charter counties in California, San Bernardino County is the only one to have a provision giving the board authority to remove an elected official, Stringer said.

Since the county's founding in 1912, as far as anyone can recollect, the board has never removed an elected official, Stringer said.

Kraig Westra, who served on the grand jury, called on the board to create an ethics commission that could act where the board cannot in sanctioning elected officials who abuse power.

Also on Tuesday, the board unanimously approved a charter amendment requiring ethics training for top officials' staff and giving the board more power over the hiring and firing of supervisors' staffs.

Voters will have the final say on the amendment, which will be on the ballot in the November election.