Pay for Play Award
ELSINORE MAGAZINE 2
February 12, 2006
A rasberry---the "Pay for Play Award"---to the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District board for a way-too-loose definition of what qualifies as a work day for board members. As outlined Sunday in an article by The Californian's Jose Carvajal, board members can make as much as $1,900.00 a month attending a variety of community functions loosely associated with board business.
State Law, which for some reason has different rules for water boards than for schools boards and city councils, permits board members to be paid for up to 10 "WORKDAYS" a month, but largely leaves it up to the individual boards to determine what qualifies.
In Elsinores Valley's case, that list includes far more than the customary two board meetings a month and periodic workshops, which are eminently reasonable; it includes such things as chamber of commerce mixers, school dedications and other cerimonial occasions that might take an hour out of a day. A board member is almost always present at City Council meetings, as well, observing from the back of the room, rarely saying anything. And perhaps the most stunning example of largesse: board members charging for meeting with constituants!!!
This is an unacceptably generous interpretation of what qualifies as "DISTRICT BUSINESS." Getting paid to attend official board meetings and water related conferences is fine. But if board members are not willing to make a public appearance on behalf of the district or speak to constituants without getting paid, they should not run for office in the first place!!! Exposure of these practices has been revealed by Director Chris Hyland, board member, division three. THANKYOU Chris for the fresh insight!!! This article is an editorial from The Californian Newspaper.
posted by Elsinore Magazine 1 | 7:55 PM
1 Comments:
Realdeal
No, it is not true that Chris Hyland got caught cheating the ratepayers. Here is the truth take it or leave it. What happened was that the senior Directors had no where else to turn but to call upon Chris Hyland to be the second verifier and signer on the "Days of Service" Report. After reviewing the reports, Policies, State Law under the Water Code,AB1234, Ordinances,Matrix and Resolutions on "Days of Service" Hyland discovered many discrepancies which led to further investigation on her part. She found in her opinion including her self that"Days of Service had been paid to Directors that should not have been paid. Hyland immediately wrote a check on her findings, reimbursing EVMWD on her over payment. The question remains on the senior Directors whether or not they have been cheating the ratepayers. Especially committee meetings by two directors on the LEAPS, WHICH IS NOT YET A PROJECT BUT THEY ARE MEETING AS MUCH AS FOUR TIMES A MONTH AT $191,00 A MEET. Kris Anderson and Phil Williams are on that committee. SINCE IT IS NOT YET A PROJECT QUESTION IS, WHAT COULD THEY POSSIBLY BE DISCUSSING? These are questions yet to be answered. The other questonable is that one Director Ben Wicke, basically taken it upon hinself to attend meetings on a continued bases as reports show since 2001 to now but not limited to 2001, with constituents concerning, pumping Liftstations. at a cost to the ratepayers of $191.00 a meet. And meet as much as 2 times a month. These meetings or not noticed on the Matrix nor came before the Board of Directors for Approval from start. A duty on problems that should have long been resolved by EVMWD staff engineer or Brought before the full Board for resloution. Not one Board member.
Post a Comment
<< Home