College District Dismisses Pierce Farm Manager

The veteran farm manager at Pierce College has been dismissed for allegedly lending college equipment to an acquaintance and boarding his own horses on Pierce property.

The Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees made the unanimous decision after a brief hearing at its meeting in downtown Los Angeles late Wednesday. The action was taken against Richard Melickian. He and his attorney were present to fight the allegations.

Officials charged Melickian lent an $18,000 grain-compressing device and a John Deere tractor to a Moorpark farmer in 1994. The tractor was returned to Pierce College in 1995, and the grain compressor, called a silopress, was recovered by campus police in March of this year, according to the statement of administrative charges the district lodged against Melickian.

Other district allegations are that Melickian improperly housed his horses on college property, harassed a crew filming an episode of the television series “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” at the farm, and permitted a student worker to live in the farm’s sheep/swine area without authorization.

Melickian’s attorney argued the lending of equipment had been a long-standing practice. He also claimed college officials targeted Melickian in retaliation for his client’s demands that back pay owed to him be paid.

Melickian can appeal the seven-member board’s decision to the college district’s Personnel Commission.