Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
2021-02-22 Min - Board
DocuSignEnvelopeID:C4E53A97-8F4F-492E-8B07-48508A738A49SPECIALMEETINGMINUTESFebruary22,2021I.CALLTOORDERThemeetingoftheBoardofDirectorsoftheTruckeeDonnerPublicUtilityDistrictwascalledtoorderat4:02p.m.byPresidentFinn.Disclaimer:DuetotheCOVID-19situationandtheCaliforniaGovernor’sExecutiveOrders,thisBoardmeetingwasconductedwiththeBoardviavideo/teleconferencingmeasuresandlivestreamedontheDistrictwebsite.PubliccommentwasopenedusingemailandquestionsandanswersonZoom.2.ROLLCALLDirectors:Aguera,Bender,Harris,VicePresidentLaliotis,andPresidentFinn.EMPLOYEESPRESENT:BrianWright,StevenPoncelet,MikeSalmon,JoeHorvath,andShannaKuhlemier.CONSULTANTSPRESENT—SteveGross,DistrictCounselandPamHobday,PamelaHurtAssociates.3.PLEDGE—defer.4.CHANGESTOTHEAGENDA-none.5.PublicComment—ThisistimesetasideforthepublictoaddresstheBoardonanymatternotontheagenda.Testimonyrelatedtoanyagendizedmattershouldbeaddressedatthetimethatthatitemisconsidered.(Thepublicmaycommentonanysubjectthatisnotontheagenda.Eachspeakerwillbelimitedtothreeminutes,butspeakertimemaybereducedatthediscretionoftheBoardPresidentiftherearealargenumberofspeakersonanygivensubject.)PresidentFinncalledforpubliccomment,seeingnone.6.DIRECTORUPDATES-DirectorHarris:“Asthemembersofthisboardareaware,oneoftheprimaryplatformsofmycampaignforelectiontotheboardwastransparencyandopengovernment.Icontinuetostriveforthatidealfollowingmyrecentelection.InlightoftheletterthatwasrecentlyprovidedtomebyadepartingemployeeoftheDistrict(acopyofwhichIprovidedtotheBoardPresidentfordissemination)IfeelcompelledtotakestepstoeliminatewhatIperceiveareeffortstopreventmefromhavingfullaccesstoinformationwhichIdeemtobeessentialtotheperformanceofmydutiesasanelectedofficial.Inthisregard,IbelievethataSeveranceAgreementandGeneralReleasethatIenteredintowiththeDistrictinDecemberof2018isbeingutilizedasameansbywhichdenymefullandcompleteaccesstoDistrictinformation,andtopreventmefromsheddinglightonmatterswhichheretoforehavebeenkeptfromthepubliceye. DocuSignEnvelopeID:C4E53A97-8F4F-492E-8B07-48508A738A49PursuanttotheDistrict’sadoptedbylaws,specificallysection2.04.060.2,IamrequestingthatamatterbeplaceduponthenextregularboardmeetingagendawhichaskstheDistricttoformallywaivecertainprovisionsoftheSeveranceAgreementandGeneralReleasethatIbelievehavebeenrenderednugatorybymyelectiontotheBoardoftheDirectorsoftheDistrict.BeforeIidentifythepro-visionsthatIbelieveshouldbestricken,IwanttofirstidentifyotherboardregulationswhichIbelieveareimplicatedandshouldbetakenintoconsideration.Theyreadasfollows:2.32.020.4ItshallbethepolicyoftheBoardofDirectorstorefrain,asindividuals,fromdiscussingmanagementproblemswiththepersonneloftheDistrict.AttherequestoftheGeneralManager,theBoardofDirectorsmayconferwithpersonnelatregularorspecialmeetingsoftheBoard.2.32.020.5ThisinnowayprecludesanyboardmemberfromtalkingwithanyDistrictemployeeorrequestinginformationfromanyDistrictemployee.However,ifsuchrequestsforinformationareofatime-consumingnature,inconsiderationoftheemployees’workschedules,DirectorsshallcoordinatesuchrequeststhroughtheGeneralMan-ager.TheSeveranceAgreementthatIenteredintoonDecember4,2018,containsthreeprovisionswhicharebeingusedtopreventmefromperformingthedutiesspecificallyauthorizedabove.Theyreadasfollows:CI.InaccordancewiththetermsandconditionssetforthinthisAgreement:***b.HarrisagreesthatshemaydiscussheremploymentandresignationfromtheDistrict,butshallnotreviewordiscussspecificsofherresignationanddeparturefromtheDistrict,exceptwiththeDistrict’sGeneralManagerorGeneralCounselandHarris’legal,financial,personalandprofessionalad-visorsandagreestokeepthetermsofthisAgreementconfidential.c.Harrisagreesthatshewillnotcontact,disruptorattempttodisruptDistrictemployeeswhiletheyareworkingandwillnotinterferewith,undermineorattempttounderminetheauthorityofanyofhersupervisorsorothersupervisorialormanagerialstaffattheDistrictandwillnotencourageotherstodoso.***G11.b.Harrisrepresentswarrantsandpromisesshehasnotusedandwillnotuseforherownbenefit,ordivulgetoanyotherperson,firm,corporation,orotherentity,anyoftheConfidentialInformationwhichshehasobtainedorlearnedofasaresultofheremploymentrelationshipwiththeDistrict,exceptinthecourseandscopeofheremploymentbytheDistrict.FollowingmyelectiontotheboardsomeofthemembersoftheBoardofDirectorshaveinsinuatedthatalawsuitwillbefiledshouldIengageinconductwhichtheybelieveviolatestheaforementionedprovisions.Mostspecifically,certainboardmembershavetakenthepositionthatImaynotcontactanyDistrictemployeetodiscussmatterswhichpertaintotheoperationoftheDistrict.Asnotedabove,IbelievethatmyelectionasaboardmemberrenderstheseprovisionsnullandvoidandinorderformetoproperlyperformthedutiesforwhichIwaselected,IfeelasthoughImustbeabletoperformthosefunctionswithoutfearofthethreatoflitigationagainstme. DocuSignEnvelopeID:C4E53A97-8F4F-492E-8B07-48508A738A49Despitetheprovisionofthisagreementsetforthaboveinparagraph(b)(whichrequiredmetokeepthetermsoftheSeveranceAgreementconfidential),attheDecember18,2020SpecialBoardMeeting,theDistricthaschosentomakethisSeveranceAgreementapublicrecordaccessibletoan-yonewhoseekstoreviewit.Havingdoneso,IbelievetheDistricthaswaiveditsrighttoenforcetheprovisionsoftheagreementandfurtherdemonstrateditsrecognitionoftheunenforceabilityofsomeoftheprovisionsoftheagreement.Basedupontheforegoing,IamaskingthisboardtoplaceanitemonthenextregularmeetingboardagendatoformallywaivetheenforcementoftheprovisionssetforthaboveaslongasIremainamemberoftheBoardofDirectorsoftheDistrict.”DirectorBenderresponded;thatDirectorHarrisenteredintotheagreementandranfortheBoardunderstandingherlimitationspertheagreement.Furthermore,theratepayerspaidaconsiderableamountofmoneyinanegotiatedcontracttoensuretheagreementscompliance.Inpastmeetings,DirectorHarrishasacknowledgedherviolationstotheagreement.WORKSHOP7.StrategicPlanWorkshop.Thisitemisthecontinuationofaseriesofworkshopsinpreparationforthestrategicplan.PresidentFinncalledforpubliccomment,seeingnone.ADJOURNMENT-7:06p.m.TherebeingnofurtherbusinessbeforetheBoard,themeetingwasadjournedtothenextregularlyscheduledmeetingoftheTruckeeDonnerPublicUtilityDistrictonMarch3,2021at6:00p.m.TRUCKEEDONNERPUBLICUTILITYDISTRICT—DocuSignedby:Ltsift1inn,President—DocuSignedby:RespectfullySubmitted,[ShannaD.Kuhlemier,ClFC1,WWClerk