Hispanic Program Chief Leaves

The Pacific Symphony’s Hispanic Community Outreach Program coordinator has left the post after less than a month and has filed a grievance with the California Arts Council.

Florinda Mintz-Yoder started working without a contract Nov. 2 and has refused to accept a subsequent contract offer that, she claims, demands excessive work for insufficient pay and would permit her termination without cause at the discretion of the executive director.

Her lawyer, John M. Brander of Long Beach, lodged a complaint with the arts council because it funded the part-time position as part of the Pacific Symphony’s Hispanic Community Outreach Program. A spokeswoman for arts council director Robert H. Reid said Monday that he had not received Brander’s letter.

Louis G. Spisto, Pacific Symphony executive director, confirmed Monday that Mintz-Yoder had refused to sign a contract proposal. He said he plans to fill the position “within the next several weeks.”