Rio Linda-Elverta Community Water District
Attn: Jerry Trautman, President, Board of Directors
cc: Cathy Nelson-Hood, Vice President
cc: Vivien Spicer-Johnson, Director
cc: Courtney Caron, Director
cc: Frank Caron, Director
cc: Roberta MacGlashan, Supervisor, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors
cc: Peter Brundage, Executive Officer, Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo)
Mr. Trautman, et al;
Six times starting in December of 2010, Director Vivien Johnson has walked out of meetings, or no-showed for meetings without previously notifying or being excused by the board president.
Director Cathy Nelson-Hood has done the same at least four times, always in collusion with Director Johnson.
The dates are:
- 12/6/2010 (VJ, CN)
- 6/1/2011 (VJ)
- 7/25/2011 (VJ, CN)
- 2/13/2012 (VJ,CN)
- 4/16/2012 (VJ)
- 4/29/2012 (VJ,CN)
The RLECWD Policy Manual states:
2.01.075 Attendance at Meetings:
Board members are expected to attend all regular and special meetings of the Board, including closed sessions, unless there is good cause for the absence or the absence is pre-approved by the President. A request for absence, except emergency absence, shall be submitted to the Board President in writing as soon as the Board Member becomes aware that he/she may be absent.
Most recently, Vivien Johnson and Cathy Nelson-Hood were absent from the April 29th, 2012 meeting.
Less than 48 hours later Johnson writes in the May 1 issue of her periodical, the North Country News:
“As of this writing a Special meeting was scheduled by President Jerry Trautman, for April 29th, 10:00am… This meeting will consist of only three directors, Jerry Trautman, Courtney Caron and Frank Caron. I cannot attend and am told that Cathy had other plans as well.”
This clearly is in violation of the policy cited above. Even though the meeting was scheduled according to the wishes of the majority of the board, Johnson and Nelson decided it was inconvenient for them to attend. They did not make an effort to contact the board president to be excused. They did not have an emergency. They did not get pre-approval or posess “good cause” to be absent.
And they did it together… again.
“I cannot attend and am told that Cathy had other plans as well.”
– Vivien Johnson, North Country News, May 1, 2012
Collusion. Clear discussion of District events and issues occurring outside of public meetings.
These events might be considered inconvenient, unfortunate, or just typically rude if not for both Nelson-Hood and Johnson’s stated intention to ruin the district.
In December of 2010, after GM Joe Sherrill was terminated, Cathy Nelson-Hood had this to say at the 12/20 meeting:
“I also mentioned that I would, and for the rest of my life, until it’s done, I will make sure that this district files bankruptcy.“
At the very same meeting, Vivien Johnson had this to say:
“I think that you three are going to regret this terribly, and I’ll tell you what, I’m going to do everything that I can to make sure that you do.“
Now we have a clearly stated intent to ruin the district, to be disruptive, cause regret and create trouble among the Board of Directors, and to drive the district into bankruptcy. All the while, walking out on or skipping meetings that are inconvenient, or where the absence of a quorum suits them. This causes these meetings to be rescheduled, agenda items to be delayed, ratepayers inconvenienced… and the most distasteful issue of all, is that both Nelson Hood and Johnson collect the $100 stipend for meetings they have walked out on.
President Trautman, how long will you allow this to continue?
Why is the policy manual being completely disregarded?
According to District policy, Board members are expected to attend all meetings unless the absence is pre-approved by the President, and a request has been submitted. How many times are they going to be allowed to disrupt the business of the community without consequence? As President of the board, you are given wide authority to take punitive action to put a stop to the irresponsible actions of the two board members that are costing this community money, preventing the business of the district from getting done, and preventing developmental and economic growth that this community so desperately needs.
President Trautman, you have the ability to remove the directors that want nothing more than to ruin the district… people who have a stated intent to ruin the district.
President Trautman, Take action to remove the directors that are causing problems. Take action to remove the directors that are not operating in full acknowledgement of their oath of office. Take positive action to nullify the troublemakers before it’s too late.
The clock is ticking, and it’s been running for quite some time.
John Todd
Publisher
RioLindaOnline.com
