Just two weeks…

Just two weeks.

That’s how long it’s taken the “new board” to start meandering down the path of mediocrity that has plagued the previous decade of the Rio Linda Elverta Community Water District.

Over the past two special meetings, the board has placed an item on the agenda; “to consider the appointment, evaluation of performance, discipline or dismissal of appointed general manager”. Saturday night’s meeting was a brief period of public comment and the board immediately went into closed session. The session lasted nearly three hours, after which it was announced that there was “no action” on the agenda item.

Three hours and no reportable action? After three hours there had to have been something to report. Something, even if it’s not the RIGHT thing.

The right thing would be to terminate Joe Sherrill for not meeting the requirements of the position.

The district’s policy manual is publicly available on the district’s website (Click here). In the manual, on page 34 it states the requirements for the position.

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in public administration, political science, business management or a closely related field

Seven (7) years of experience as a manager or assistant manager in a California governmental agency operating a water utility (a masters degree or registration as a professional engineer may be substituted for two years of experience)

Possession of a current California Department of Health Water Treatment Operator Grade II ( or higher) certificate or the ability to obtain one within one year of employment

Possession of a valid Class C California driver’s license or the ability to obtain one within one (1) month of employment.

Seven years experience as a manager or assistant manager operating a water facility AND an Operator II certificate. Joe Sherrill has neither of these qualifications.

As reported in the Bee, Sherrill said “I gave them my perception on what reality is and they gave me theirs, and we kind of met in the middle.”

The reality is that the lame duck board hired a GM that they could manipulate (as evidenced in last week’s sit-out protest) and the three new board members are allowing themselves to be railroaded by the shameless sub-committee of Nelson-Hood, Johnson, Mehta and Sherrill.

Last week, LAFCO offered up a letter asking the district to take advantage of  a voluntary receivership. If big changes don’t occur in the coming weeks, this could be the best possible action to take.

A couple of side notes from the meeting;

• I noticed that Cathy Nelson-Hood and Vivien Spicer-Johnson were seated at opposite ends of the dais this week. This is a very good thing. Previously, Hood and Johnson would whisper to each other incessantly, while complaining vociferously when others did the same thing. In fact, last night Joe Sherrill and Ravi Mehta whispered off-mic quite often, but not a word was said.
• Why does the board allow former director Mary Harris to use her three minutes of public comment to complain about the content of the Rio Linda News? It’s an issue that has nothing to do with the issues on the agenda, and nothing to do with the business of the water district. Yet, the board allowed her to spout off complaint after complaint about Kathy Santos-Reed and her journalism.
• Channel 3 were in attendance and filming interviews, and the Sacramento Bee were well represented by Robert Davila and an inconspicuous Carlos Alcala (as inconspicuous as he could be).
• Note to self… never try to eat a Tummy’s hot roast beef sandwich in your car before the meeting.

Time to go.. I need to clean up my car.