No Charges Expected Against Rec Leader

Oceanside’s top administrator said Wednesday that he anticipates no criminal charges being filed against the city’s former recreation director, who resigned a day earlier amid a police investigation.

City Manager William O. Talley said the administrative action that led to the resignation of Richard J. Watenpaugh, who quit his $53,304-a-year job Tuesday, was strictly a personnel matter.

“I don’t think there’s anything else here,” Talley said. “I don’t anticipate anything more happening in this case.”

Watenpaugh resigned in the midst of an investigation by city officials and police that turned up several city-owned surfboards in Watenpaugh’s garage on Tuesday, sources close to the probe say.

Put on Paid Leave

Two other Recreation Department employees, Aquatics Supervisor Ray Duncan and Lifeguard Capt. Matt Stevens, were put on paid administrative leave for an indefinite period Tuesday, but Talley said there was “no connection” between that action and the resignation of Watenpaugh.

Duncan declined to discuss the matter Wednesday and Stevens could not be reached for comment. Talley said he did not anticipate further disciplinary action against Duncan and Stevens “at this time.”

Watenpaugh, meanwhile, said Wednesday that “it wouldn’t serve any purpose” to talk about the events surrounding his resignation. As head of the recreation department since 1982, Watenpaugh supervised a staff of two dozen full-time employees and scores of part-time workers.

Oceanside council members expressed surprise Wednesday at the resignation of Watenpaugh, who had enjoyed a comfortable working relationship with his bosses. But the council stood firmly behind Talley.

“I like Dick Watenpaugh. I think he was doing a good job,” Councilman Walter Gilbert said. “But I stand by the manager’s decision.”

Gilbert said Watenpaugh’s resignation was a severe penalty.

“I feel that, whatever has happened here, the guy has paid a hell of a price,” Gilbert said.

The departure of Watenpaugh marks the eighth high-level management change in Oceanside since the November, 1986, election. Last year, City Manager Suzanne Foucault was forced to resign and Assistant City Manager Bill Workman resigned to take a new job in Orange County. Others who left included Police Chief Laurence Marshall, Redevelopment Director Margueretta Gulati and Assistant City Atty. Amy Greyson.