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Posted by: thepinetree on 08/04/2009 11:05 AM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 08/05/2009 09:53 AM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
:
Letter to the Editor~by Ed Rich in Response to Letter from Jeff Davidson, Letter Enclosed As Well
August 3, 2009
"Thank you Director Davidson,
I was in the grocery store last evening and a shopper saw my campaign button and said, “Did you see the letter to the editor in the Calaveras Enterprise attacking you”? I didn’t, so while at the checkout stand I purchased a paper, then went home and drafted a lengthy response about the half truths and personal attacks that Director Davidson is well known for. The events leading to the decision to dismiss the General Manager (GM) were neither “abrupt” nor a surprise to any director that would listen. Proper procedure was followed and this letter is intended to clarify what is going on at the CCWD....
board.
Director Davidson is the longest serving Director on the Calaveras County Water District Board (CCWD) followed by Director Underhill. Both directed 5 GM’s in their eight year terms while in finishing my fourth year I have only directed one. Initially I was GM Andre’s biggest supporter voting in both cases with the 3 to 2 majority to both hire and terminate him and you did not. I also supported paying him the highest salary ever paid by CCWD. With the high salary came the expectation of high performance. My role is not to use your money to pay someone based on personality or relationships (which had been common in the past) but to insure Calaveras residents got the best. It is not micro managing for the board to hold the GM accountable. I certainly can understand different points of view and expectations related to performance but considering strong divergent views on performance but that is part of the job. I will not accept less than the best for the residents of Calaveras.
My request for a closed door and confidential session with the GM was due to events related to cutting $1.5 million from our budget. That is the proper procedure. You and Director Underhill tried to block that meeting from happening with accusations of Brown Act violations. What was not mentioned was CCWD’s attorney was in attendance who recommended postponement of the closed session to insure there was no Brown Act violation. He interviewed all Directors individually and advised that the meeting be rescheduled to the following week to avoid Brown Act jeopardy. Your public speculation that there were behind the scenes serialized discussions between the “new” directors is you’re “speculation”. Likewise, instead of letting the DA do his job and investigate whether your complaint have merit, you publicize your accusations clearly in an attempt to discredit both President Dean and myself.
Director Davidson has threatened me many times over the past year including months ago telling employees he had recruited Chamber Executive Director to unseat me and another candidate to unseat President Dean. He kept his word on me however never mentions he is also a Chamber Director and her supervisor?
For my part, I know my questioning of the propriety of what appears to be both a personal and self serving relationship with the Washington lobbyist is causing the personal friction. However, there has been approximately $650,000 in CCWD funds spent over the last 6 years seeking grants to fix a flood problem in Valley Springs with so far only returned $150,000 in grants. It has been made clear to me flood control is a County responsibility, not CCWD’s and although I can see a coordination role there has to be accountability for the use of ratepayers funds. My pressure has resulted in lowering the lobbyist fee lowered some $3000 per month. I also get many calls from rate payers suspicious that as an active developer in Valley Spring Director Davidson may have self interest or conflicts and it would help in the future if he recused himself from those votes?
I find it odd that Director Davidson doesn’t acknowledge that Board Presidents duties extend beyond other Director’s. The resentment for other Directors claims for reimbursements for meetings or travel ignores that they are authorized by board policy. The community outreach emphasis that President Dean considers so important is a continuation of the efforts initiated by former Board President Underhill. This was to repair some of the damage past boards made by their “heavy handed style”. I applaud the continuation of all efforts to improve CCWD’s community image. I have heard the statement many times from you “let the special districts go broke and then we will take them over”. Personally I believe the bitterness from those statements is a major factor in blocking progress in the current lawsuit with UPA?
The new CCWD Agency Investment Policy which I, the G M and the former Finance Director (FD) developed was adopted by unanimous vote. It authorized the agencies FD to purchase of the AA rated, $1.4 million Lehman Brothers Bond. That policy received a national award for excellence with its emphasis on safety, diversity, and accountability. To hold me “directly” responsible because that bond went into receivership would be like holding the Executive Director of the Chamber responsible for all the closed business in the County?
I have been assured by both the acting GM and FD at CCWD that costs associated with the severance package of the GM will be made available when they are finalized and accurate. I have also asked that offsets and savings (gosh no private car allowance payments) or the approximately $50,000 budgeted for legal services for personnel and union disputes that have all been resolved be included. Director Davidson previous demand for an accounting of other directors travel backfired when his semi-annual trips to Washington, D.C. made him the second highest cost traveler on the CCWD Board?
I am very proud of being endorsed by CCWD’s Employees Union. It demonstrates to me the employees trust my integrity to do the right thing without any bias. It is not only unusual for the employee union to endorse and incumbent they didn’t endorse when first elected, but one who was also the former Chair of the Calaveras County Republican Party? That is a testimonial that I am proud of.
Again, thank you for pointing out to the VOTERS how far the Board has come in spite of your constant objections and attempts to return to the days of old board styles where you are obviously most comfortable. I would urge people to vote for who believe they think can best lead CCWD. My record speaks for itself.
ED RICH, CCWD Director for District 4"
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