The NEWS index
Some items from The Rio Linda Elverta News, April 20, 2006:
Water District Madness - Can you believe this?
Zack Arbios is new Water Board member
Published in Rio Linda Elverta News April 20, 2006 - Scroll for other articles
Water District Madness Can you believe this?
The "Reform Board", created by Board Member Mary Harris, has really shown its stuff this time.
Remember attorneys Chiurazzi and Stubbs, hired by Harris and now resigned Board member Jim Strutton? They were supposed to reduce health and benefits costs for the Rio Linda/Elverta Community Water District (RLECWD). Harris and Strutton, when proposing health and benefits attorneys be hired, set a cost limit of $6000. Harris said, "I think six thousand would be an appropriate amount." Strutton said, "I would say no more than six thousand, I would say that that should be more than sufficient."
Through March, these two "Special Counsel" lawyers have been paid a total of $63,961.80. That is over ten times what Harris and Strutton originally set as a "limit". And that in less than a year. But this may just be the beginning, based on what has now transpired!
RLECWD has now filed an appeal, disputing the verdict handed down by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Lloyd G. Connelly in December. Connelly ruled that RLECWD Board retiree Jerry Wickham was entitled to the full cost of medical coverage equivalent to the Public Employees' Medical and Hospital Care Act (PERS medical) from which the Reform Board took action last July to withdraw.
According to Wickham's attorney, RLECWD's attorney Chiurazzi said he would accept the Judge's ruling, if Wickham agreed to not pursue reimbursement for his legal costs. Wickham filed to be reimbursed for his costs, and apparently Chiurazzi followed through on his threat by filing the appeal on behalf of the District. The District is now set up to incur the costs of appealing the verdict, and retiree Wickham faces even more legal costs if a settlement is not reached.
Who authorized the appeal to be filed? When handed a copy of the court appeal document, RLECWD General Manager Dave Andres appeared to be taken aback. Andres said he was not aware of the court action. Board members Fred Jones (who replaced Strutton in March) and Hal Morris, when contacted, were also not aware. "I didn't know we were filing an appeal", said Morris.
That leaves only Board member Mary Harris and Board President Darrell Nelson; the fifth Board Member had resigned, following Strutton, by the time the appeal was filed on behalf of the District. Did the attorney act on his own, or was he authorized to represent the District? And authorized by whom?
RLECWD's long-time General Counsel has fired the District, perhaps as a result of Board President Darrell Nelson referring to the "bad advice" he claimed was provided by counsel. The "bad advice" from the previous General Counsel included an admonition that RLECWD would lose in court if it tried to eliminate the retirees' health benefits.
General Manager Andres has received eleven responses from attorney firms who wish to be hired as new General Counsel. Their proposals were included in the agenda for the April Board meeting. But when Chiurazzi and Stubbs, recruited by Board members Harris and Strutton, were considered by the Board to be hired to cut employee and retiree health benefits, they were the only applicants who made a proposal at a Board meeting.
And this is just the Beginning.
Topping this all off, General Manager Dave Andres has now given the Board notice that he is resigning, effective June 19, 2006. Andres says "it is time to pursue other challenges". He is going to the Calaveras County Water District, where he says as General Manager he will have more employees, better pay and better retirement benefits.
Andres' personal involvement in the Elverta Specific Plan (ESP) project has brought many benefits to RLECWD as the ESP will nearly double the number of customers in the District. His firm hand on the ESP project will be difficult to replace.
A special Board meeting has been called for Tuesday, April 25, 2006, at 6PM to start the process to recruit a new General Manager. The meeting will be held in the Water District Office at 730 L Street.
Will what's left of the "Reform Board" find a qualified replacement for Andres? How many more RLECWD employees will leave for greener pastures? How many more Board members will resign?
Published in Rio Linda Elverta News April 20, 2006 - Scroll for other articles
Zack Arbios is new Water Board member
Replaces Doug Cater
by Jay O'Brien
The
Rio Linda/Elverta Community Water District Board of Directors voted at
their April 17th meeting to select Zack Arbios to replace resigned
Director Doug Cater.Arbios was selected over two other candidates, ex-Board members Mel Griffin and Robert Blanchard.
Arbios, who has resided in Elverta for nearly six years, works for the California Highway Patrol in the Facilities Section. He holds a General Contractor license, and has been a business owner. He served on the Rio Linda Elverta Community Planning Advisory Council.
Arbios will serve until December; he stated that he will campaign for his election to a longer term in November.
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