Support for the general manager

EDITOR:

At the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Cameron Park Community Services District on Aug. 29 it was voted, in closed session, on a four-to-one basis to extend the general manager of Cameron Park’s contract. I realize that Alan Clarke, Greg Stanton and Scott McNeil had to support the GM. If they hadn’t it would be a public admission that they were wrong not to extend Fred Smith’s contract.

I am curious about one vote in the affirmative. It is Sean Tucker’s. Mr. Tucker wasn’t on the board when Fred Smith was fired. So my question to Mr. Tucker is what exactly has the GM done in the year that she has been in charge of Cameron Park that warrants a renewal of her contract? What increase in income and revenues has she brought to Cameron Park? What growth in program participation? What increase of business coming and wanting to be part of Cameron Park activities has the GM been responsible for? How has the GM worked with citizen groups who use our facilities? What has she done to build a staff that is functioning smoothly and working toward the CSD’s goals? What marketing and marketing plan has she put in place? What has the GM done to foster an atmosphere of cooperation on the part of board members?

You were at the Aug. 15 board meeting when a member of the business community came and complained about the GM taking over the barbecue event in Cameron Park and her demeanor when she tried to recruit him to participate in this new event. You heard him say he it would be unlikely that he would have anything to do with Cameron Park again because of the GM. You have heard that four of the last five Blue Ribbon employees employed by the GM have quit because they cannot work with the GM. I talked personally to one of the latest to leave and they left because they could no longer work with our GM. You’ve been at meetings where it has been brought to light that the GM has tried to, singlehandedly, intimidate the Golden Nugget Quilters group and rescind the valid contract that they have with the Cameron Park CSD. You are aware of the unbudgeted legal expenses that Cameron Park has incurred as a result of this unnecessary and foolhardy effort. You where at the meeting when I questioned the GM about the bridal fair that was held in February 2012 and asked if she had a booth at the bridal fair to market the Community Center and if she had offered a bridal fair discount on the rental of the Community Center to help obtain wedding parties and increase business for the Center. You know the GM answered that she hadn’t done either of simple things. You are aware of the instance when the GM has shared information with you and Scott McNeil about an $112,000 unbudgeted invoice from Cal Fire and did not informed the board president and two other board members which is probably a violation of the California Government Code.

While this might seem to be about the GM it’s not. It is about what you know of the GM’s performance and your support of the GM. So please explain to me and the rest of the voting public in Cameron Park why you voted in the affirmative. The voters have the right to know your reasons before the November election. This vote and the reasons for it will provide a window on to your thinking and what your vision for Cameron Park is going to be for the next four years if elected.

GERALD LILLPOP
Cameron Park