DANA POINT : Water District Names General Manager

The board of directors of the Capistrano Beach County Water District this week hired consultant Bill Meadows as its full-time general manager at a salary of $6,500 a month plus benefits.

Meadows, who has been acting manager since May, 1993, will also get the use of a district car, a 1989 Dodge. His term was made retroactive to May 1 and will last until the district merges with the Capistrano Beach Sanitary District on Jan. 1, 1995.

The board vote Wednesday night was 4 to 1, with director Ken Lawrence dissenting.

Director Jim Hayton said he voted for Meadows because of his “excellent performance” during the past year.

“He’s done an awesome job,” Hayton said. “He is honest and forthright.”

Lawrence also praised the work Meadows had done but thought the salary was too high.

“I feel that $6,500 a month, plus another 20% to 25% in benefits, is a little more than the job is worth,” Lawrence said. “You’re approaching $100,000 a year, and I don’t think this small water district should take that much effort.”

The district serves about 8,000 customers in Capistrano Beach, Dana Point, Dana Point Harbor and a small portion of north San Clemente.