Water Agency Manager Resigns Under Fire : Government: William P. Becker, who will remain for six months, says allegations of mismanagement are ‘misunderstandings.’

The general manager of four South County water agencies has resigned, effective in six months, after being accused of mismanagement and inappropriate behavior by a fellow agency official, according to several water board members.

William P. Becker, who two years ago apologized for his monthly expense accounts, which averaged $1,000 for travel and dining with board members, resigned in the midst of a new controversy related to his use of an agency car, his purchase of gasoline at reduced rates and other issues.

Becker, 44, who has been general manager for two of the agencies since 1986, said Monday that he resigned because “I thought this was best for my board and me.” He characterized the accusations as “misunderstandings as they relate to my employment contract.”

“There has been nothing but rumors going on around me,” said Becker, who is paid $93,000 a year. “I thought this would be a way to stop any potential embarrassment for my board and give me a six-month time frame to look for another job.”

The allegations were raised a month ago by Michael Dunbar, general manager of the South Coast Water District. A representative of the district sits on the Aliso Water Management Agency, one of four water reclamation organizations that Becker manages. Last week, that agency accepted Becker’s resignation.

In a Sept. 8 memo to the Aliso Water Management board, Dunbar accused Becker of:

* Buying a water agency car for his own use and netting $4,000 by paying for the outstanding lease payments rather than the market value of the car.

* Buying gasoline for his own car from the Moulton Niguel Water District maintenance yard at reduced rates.

* Using an agency car without telling the board of directors and getting a car allowance while using an agency car.

* Not informing the board that his car allowance would be added to his salary, which would increase the figure on which his retirement is based.

* Allowing a contractor working for the Aliso Water Management Agency to also work privately for Becker.

* Miscalculating costs of a regional water treatment plant.

* Failing to inform the board about various projects and problems.

* Allowing an agency consultant to work rent-free in the office that houses both the Aliso Water Management Agency and the South East Regional Reclamation Authority.

John Schatz, the general manager of the Santa Margarita Water District, and a member of the joint executive committee of both the South East and Aliso agencies, said the committee “has carefully reviewed each of those allegations and takes them very seriously. However, our review of the facts indicates, for the most part, they are overblown.”

Becker’s resignation came in a memo dated Oct. 5 to Laurence R. Lizotte, chair of the Aliso Water Management board and Gil Jones, chairman of the South East Regional Reclamation Authority board.

Jones, who said he wants to “wait until all the facts are on the table,” said Becker has done an admirable job of running four separate agencies. He said the criticism of Becker stem mostly from internal disagreements about Becker’s management style,

“I give him a lot of credit. I think he’s done an excellent job, although his management style may be another thing,” Jones said. “No one has criticized the operations of any of the plants as far as I know.”