Water District Board Fires Its General Manager

The Pico Water District’s chief administrator has been fired because of conflicts with water board members, the board president said this week.

The board voted unanimously Oct. 21 to oust Harold W. Maupin, for 12 years the general manager of the district that serves about a third of Pico Rivera. The general manager, the five-member board and 11 employees run six wells that provide water to about 5,000 homes.

Maupin had been accused by board member Fred Silva of misusing a district credit card by staying in luxury hotels during conferences, holding elaborate banquets and purchasing liquor with public funds.

Maupin, 64, could not be reached for comment on the firing. He said earlier that the expenses were legitimate, legal business costs.

The board decided in September to hold an informal inquiry into the allegations but had uncovered no wrongdoing at the time of the firing, said water board President Robert Santillan.

Santillan said it was primarily a “personality clash” with several board members rather than job performance that prompted him to call for the vote on Maupin’s dismissal.

“This is something that everyone saw coming,” Santillan said.

A conflict between Maupin and Silva began when Silva was elected to the board in November, 1991, Santillan said. In addition, he said, Maupin argued with board member Manny Jurado.

“They just didn’t see eye to eye, and it was beginning to hurt the district,” Santillan said. “We thought it was about time for a change.”

Silva and other board members declined to comment on the firing.

Santillan said the elections next week in which he, Lydia Mae Mercado and Jurado are seeking reelection did not affect the board’s decision to fire Maupin.

Field Supt. Joe Dermody will take over Maupin’s duties until another general manager is hired.

Maupin, who was out of town during the vote, had planned to retire at the end of 1994.