Central Basin Board Members Reportedly Received Thousands in Payments Following New General Manager's Installation
In a recent investigation by the Los Cerritos Community Newspaper, some Central Basin Directors have been accused of improperly using funds. The investigation, conducted on September 12, 2024, found that certain Directors had illegally voted to put Dr. Alex Rojas on paid leave and appointed Victor Ponto as acting CB General Manager.
One of the directors under scrutiny is Juan Garza. Garza, who is also the Executive Director for California Cities for Self-Reliance-JPA, cashes a monthly check of $5,000 in this role. In addition, since February 2024, he has received $14,754 for attending meetings, with additional payments for a car allowance and cell phone totaling $1,000. This brings his total earnings for meetings, car, and cell phone in five months to $17,739, averaging $3,500 per month.
Another director under investigation is Martha Camacho-Rodriguez. Her meeting payments skyrocketed after Ponto took over, totaling $8,858 for five months. Camacho-Rodriguez also took a car and cell phone allowance, totaling $11,843 in five months.
The payments to former Director Bekele after announcing his resignation in April are also under investigation. Bekele received payments of $295, $590, $885, and $2,066 in February to May 2024, totaling $3,836. Questions have been raised about the legality of these payments and the possibility of double-dipping.
CB President Art Chacon stated that directors are allowed ten monthly meetings, and the findings are interesting, suggesting improper use of funds by some directors. Chacon himself took $6,400 for meetings and $2,985 for car-cell allowance, totaling $9,442.
Former Director Michael Gualtieri's payments rose after Ponto became GM, totaling $7,376 in five months before his retirement in June. Ponto allowed the vote that put him in charge of the water agency.
Garza, when contacted about the investigation, made defamatory remarks, accusing LCCN of making a flawed and cherry-picked argument. However, the investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to be revealed in due course.
The Central Basin Water Board has yet to comment on the allegations, but the findings of the investigation have raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of the board's financial practices. The public will be closely watching developments in this case to ensure that the water agency is managed in the best interests of its users.
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