Las Virgenes Water Board Must Replace Its Manager

Beleaguered Las Virgenes Municipal Water District officials, already at odds over how to fill two governing-board openings created by election irregularities, now are looking for a new chief administrator.

Richard B. Baird, general manager of the Las Virgenes district, has resigned to become assistant general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Baird will leave the Calabasas-based water district Oct. 31, four days before residents from Calabasas and Agoura Hills vote to fill one of three board vacancies.

Campaign Filing Errors

Los Angeles County supervisors will appoint the other two directors. Elections for those positions were canceled last month when county officials disqualified three candidates because of campaign filing errors.

Baird’s resignation has added to the acrimony among Las Virgenes board members.

Director Tad Mattock, the lone incumbent who has survived the election filing dispute to remain a candidate for reelection, said he is pleased that Baird is leaving. Mattock has frequently criticized Baird and is campaigning for reelection on a platform calling for reforms at the Las Virgenes headquarters.

Mattock is urging the water board to take its time replacing Baird and to find a replacement who will work for less than Baird’s $80,000 salary.

Quick Replacement Sought

But other water board members praised Baird’s work and said they hope to move quickly to fill the position with someone who has a management style resembling Baird’s.

A similar view has been expressed by Mattock’s opponent in the election, Glen Peterson.

The water board voted last week to use a consulting company to recruit a replacement or to find an interim manager if a suitable permanent one cannot be found quickly.

The next move in the filling of board vacancies falls to County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who has not yet acted on the water board’s formal recommendation that directors Ann Dorgelo and Harold Helsley be appointed to new 4-year terms in the wake of their canceled elections. Because the water district is in his area, Antonovich will propose appointees for what is normally routine approval by other supervisors.

Dorgelo’s race was shelved when her lone challenger was disqualified; Helsley’s was called off when both he and his only challenger were ruled ineligible to run. County elections officials acted after learning of nominating-petition errors by the candidates.

Several water board members have privately lobbied Antonovich on behalf of Helsley and Dorgelo. But Mattock is waging a campaign to persuade Antonovich to appoint Gordon Miner, a Malibu Lake resident who was seeking Helsley’s seat in the canceled election.

Leeta Pistone, Antonovich’s San Fernando Valley field deputy, said no deadline has been set for the selection and that Dorgelo and Helsley will continue to serve until supervisors act.

‘It’s Not Urgent’

“I know people would like to get it over with, but it’s not urgent,” Pistone said. She said her office is still accepting resumes from people interested in the appointments.

Las Virgenes board members, who are paid $100 a meeting, set water and sewage rates and plan pipelines and pumping facilities in a fast-growing, 120-square-mile area between Woodland Hills and Westlake Village.

Baird said his departure should not affect the district’s day-to-day operations. He said the water board’s lack of harmony did not prompt his resignation.

“I don’t mean to be a deserter. I wasn’t looking for a new job. I enjoy it here,” he said this week.

Carl Boronkay, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District, said that because the Las Virgenes water district is affiliated with his Los Angeles-based agency, Baird will fit in quickly as its new director of finance, administrative services and personnel.

Before joining the Las Virgenes district 5 1/2 years ago, Baird was Los Angeles County’s assistant administrative officer.