Rudometkin Resigns, Clears Path for Robertson
Just as the Modoc County Board of Supervisors readies itself to resolve the highly contentious question of how to fill the newly created position of administrative services director, current CAO Rick Rudometkin has announced he is resigning.
Rudometkin made his resignation official this morning in a brief letter addressed to Supervisor Loren “Shorty” Crabtree, chair of the board, stating he intends to return full time to his position as director of transportation.
“Due to the direction that the board is going, I have decided that it is in my best interest and the county’s best interest that I resign from my position as CAO,” Rudometkin stated.
He did not immediately respond to the Modoc County Daily News when asked for a comment elaborating on his reasons for resigning.
Rudometkin’s departure as CAO clears the way for the Board of Supervisors to drop its intention of hiring an administrative services director -- who would have been Rudometkin’s superior -- and go back to hiring a chief administrative officer.
Until his resignation the board was faced with devising an arrangement where a new administrative services director would be hired while retaining Rudometkin as CAO. Front runner for the now wide-open position is Chester Robertson, public works director for the City of Alturas.
Robertson will be offered the position of CAO at the board’s May 10 meeting, according to a knowledgeable source familiar with the board’s plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for the board. The position is to be divided between the county and the city, with more time weighted to county issues such as its financial struggles.
Rudometkin, generally considered a temporary fix by the Dan Macsay-led Board of Supervisors last year and supported by Supervisor Patricia Cantrall, was hastily hired and did not have the minimum qualifications to hold the county’s top administrative job.
His resignation is effective June 2, according to his letter of resignation.
-- Ray A. March
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
An Analysis
Exactly.
What’s wrong with the picture the Modoc County Board of Supervisors is attempting to paint when it presumably names someone -- could it be Chester Robertson -- to the newly-created post of administrative services director?
And, as they paint a new portrait of county officialdom, what are they going to do with the picture of Rick Rudometkin who stands there in indelible ink -- a still life study of a chief administrative officer by the hand of Supervisor Patricia Cantrall?
What happens when the picture is finished?
A red flag went up over the county courthouse last week when it was announced that the special meeting scheduled by the Board of Supervisors for May 3, was cancelled and the business of that meeting -- apparently the naming of Robertson to the administrative services director position -- was moved to the board’s public session on May 10.
The reason is reportedly to give County Counsel John Kenny time to write an air-tight contract that will cover Robertson’s proposed dual role as the county’s administrative services director and Alturas’ public works director -- both part-time jobs.
I
In the meantime, there are power plays everywhere you look on the Board of Supervisors, which ironically is creating a power vacuum that hinders the five supervisors from unifying and making decisions that are in the best interests of the county’s citizenry.
Before they can get to the interests of their constituents, Cantrall and Supervisor Jeff Bullock are faced with getting over their petty quarrels with the board’s majority. What did they gain by voting against Robertson in closed session, as we have learned? What’s stopping them?
Cantrall, who is now reportedly making overtures to Robertson not to meddle with Rudometkin, is widely known to support Rudometkin because he did her deed in getting rid of Mark Charlton after Charlton exposed the board along with Mike Maxwell, Cheryl Knoch and Judi Stevens among others in the misappropriation of millions from the treasury.
Bullock, who inexplicably says he thinks Rudometkin is doing a great job even though Rudometkin does not have the qualifications to fill the position, has conflictingly said he also thinks the Board of Supervisors should be the county’s administrative arm.
Question: What?
Answer: More power, more money.
Back at the ranch: Time is running out once again on the Board of Supervisors to make good the money taken from the treasury, as mandated by the State Controller’s Office. There is less than two months before the end of the fiscal year -- a time when all cities and counties must show a balanced budget.
Assuming Robertson is offered and accepts the administrative services director job, what does he face besides the frustrating challenge of working with a 3-2 board (Supervisors Loren “Shorty” Crabtree, Geri Byrne and Dave Allan all support the appointment of Robertson).
Naturally, restoring an estimated $18 million to the treasury has its priorities.
But more importantly, how will these five supervisors -- with the minorities’ personal vendettas and agendas -- adjust to the feeling of eventually having money in the treasury?
When, and if, the treasury is flush again how will the board act once the county is solvent? Assuming that time will come.
Will they spend county funds like a drunk sailor on leave in a foreign port and leave the county once more in debt?
The answer is, the five members of the Board of Supervisors must learn to pull together and go down the same fiscally stable path.
However, until that happens what we have is a picture of county government being painted with what might be called “mixed media,” or oil and water because of at least two supervisors’ personal and obstructive agendas.
None of this takes into account the fact that Robertson, if he’s the man, will not have a county office, a desk or a staff to go to when he arrives for his first day of working for the county. This is not merely a neglectful oversight by the Board of Supervisors, it smacks of a deliberate effort to discourage him at every turn.
Do not be surprised to hear Cantrall argue that Robertson doesn’t need an office because he’s not a full time county employee. Who knows, perhaps Rudometkin will be a good sport and share his Fourth Street quarters with his new boss.
Lest we forget, an administrative services director trumps a chief administrative officer in pay scale, we’re told.
-- Ray A. March
An Analysis
Exactly.
What’s wrong with the picture the Modoc County Board of Supervisors is attempting to paint when it presumably names someone -- could it be Chester Robertson -- to the newly-created post of administrative services director?
And, as they paint a new portrait of county officialdom, what are they going to do with the picture of Rick Rudometkin who stands there in indelible ink -- a still life study of a chief administrative officer by the hand of Supervisor Patricia Cantrall?
What happens when the picture is finished?
A red flag went up over the county courthouse last week when it was announced that the special meeting scheduled by the Board of Supervisors for May 3, was cancelled and the business of that meeting -- apparently the naming of Robertson to the administrative services director position -- was moved to the board’s public session on May 10.
The reason is reportedly to give County Counsel John Kenny time to write an air-tight contract that will cover Robertson’s proposed dual role as the county’s administrative services director and Alturas’ public works director -- both part-time jobs.
I
In the meantime, there are power plays everywhere you look on the Board of Supervisors, which ironically is creating a power vacuum that hinders the five supervisors from unifying and making decisions that are in the best interests of the county’s citizenry.
Before they can get to the interests of their constituents, Cantrall and Supervisor Jeff Bullock are faced with getting over their petty quarrels with the board’s majority. What did they gain by voting against Robertson in closed session, as we have learned? What’s stopping them?
Cantrall, who is now reportedly making overtures to Robertson not to meddle with Rudometkin, is widely known to support Rudometkin because he did her deed in getting rid of Mark Charlton after Charlton exposed the board along with Mike Maxwell, Cheryl Knoch and Judi Stevens among others in the misappropriation of millions from the treasury.
Bullock, who inexplicably says he thinks Rudometkin is doing a great job even though Rudometkin does not have the qualifications to fill the position, has conflictingly said he also thinks the Board of Supervisors should be the county’s administrative arm.
Question: What?
Answer: More power, more money.
Back at the ranch: Time is running out once again on the Board of Supervisors to make good the money taken from the treasury, as mandated by the State Controller’s Office. There is less than two months before the end of the fiscal year -- a time when all cities and counties must show a balanced budget.
Assuming Robertson is offered and accepts the administrative services director job, what does he face besides the frustrating challenge of working with a 3-2 board (Supervisors Loren “Shorty” Crabtree, Geri Byrne and Dave Allan all support the appointment of Robertson).
Naturally, restoring an estimated $18 million to the treasury has its priorities.
But more importantly, how will these five supervisors -- with the minorities’ personal vendettas and agendas -- adjust to the feeling of eventually having money in the treasury?
When, and if, the treasury is flush again how will the board act once the county is solvent? Assuming that time will come.
Will they spend county funds like a drunk sailor on leave in a foreign port and leave the county once more in debt?
The answer is, the five members of the Board of Supervisors must learn to pull together and go down the same fiscally stable path.
However, until that happens what we have is a picture of county government being painted with what might be called “mixed media,” or oil and water because of at least two supervisors’ personal and obstructive agendas.
None of this takes into account the fact that Robertson, if he’s the man, will not have a county office, a desk or a staff to go to when he arrives for his first day of working for the county. This is not merely a neglectful oversight by the Board of Supervisors, it smacks of a deliberate effort to discourage him at every turn.
Do not be surprised to hear Cantrall argue that Robertson doesn’t need an office because he’s not a full time county employee. Who knows, perhaps Rudometkin will be a good sport and share his Fourth Street quarters with his new boss.
Lest we forget, an administrative services director trumps a chief administrative officer in pay scale, we’re told.
-- Ray A. March
Monday, May 2, 2011
Crabtree Unresponsive After Meeting With Sikhs
Cross-Cultural, Civic Rights Reps In Attendance
Modoc County Supervisor Loren “Shorty” Crabtree has been publicly unavailable since he met last Thursday with members of the Sacramento Sikh Temple after they strongly objected to his remark about people who were “wearing rags around their heads” at a Woodland auction.
While Crabtree has not disclosed his role in the meeting, it is known that he met not only with Sikh Temple members, but also with representatives from both cross-cultural and civil rights groups.
The Sacramento-area Sikh community took exception to Crabtree’s comment made at the April 12 meeting of the Board of Supervisors and invited Crabtree to meet with them so they could inform him about their religion and ask Crabtree to explain why he made the “rags” reference.
The meeting was facilitated by State Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, whose district closely borders Woodland and includes Modoc County. It was organized by Amar Shergill, a Sacramento attorney and Sacramento Sikh Temple board member.
Shergill, in an e-mail statement to the Modoc County Daily News, confirmed that Crabtree did meet with members of the Sikh Temple. Also present at the meeting were representatives of the Japanese American Citizens League, the Interfaith Service Bureau, the Council on American Islamic Relations and United Sikhs, an international non-profit organization affiliated with the United Nations.
"Loren Crabtree and his wife met with leaders from the Sacramento Sikh Community on April 28 at the offices of the Shergill Law Firm in Sacramento," Shergill said in his e-mail. “After watching a short multimedia presentation on the Sikh faith, Mr. Crabtree apologized for his remarks at the April 12 meeting of the Modoc County Board of Supervisors.”
Shergill confirmed that the Japanese American Citizens League, the Interfaith Service Bureau, the Council on American Islamic Relations and United Sikhs were represented at the meeting.
"We appreciate that Mr. Crabtree and his wife traveled such a long distance to meet with us and to address his unfortunate remarks,” Shergill stated. “He explained that he did not intend to offend anyone with his remarks, but now understands that his statements were offensive, particularly to the Sikh Community."
Shergill went on to say that elected officials such as Crabtree, who is chair of the Modoc County Board of Supervisors, have a responsibility not to encourage intolerance, and he also singled out members of the audience at the April 12 meeting who found Crabtree’s comments funny.
"In light of the recent attacks against Sikhs, it is especially important that elected officials like Mr. Crabtree act in a manner that does not encourage intolerance,” Shergill stated. “The Sikh community thanks Mr. Crabtree for recognizing the seriousness of this issue and for addressing it without delay.
“Mr. Crabtree will be making a statement at the May 10 supervisors’ meeting to bring closure to the matter. We trust that the attendees of the April 12 meeting that laughed at Mr. Crabtree's remarks will follow Mr. Crabtree's lead in altering their behavior."
Crabtree has not responded to numerous phone messages left seeking comment on his meeting and confirming that he will be making a statement at the May 10 Board of Supervisors session.
-- Ray A. March
Cross-Cultural, Civic Rights Reps In Attendance
Modoc County Supervisor Loren “Shorty” Crabtree has been publicly unavailable since he met last Thursday with members of the Sacramento Sikh Temple after they strongly objected to his remark about people who were “wearing rags around their heads” at a Woodland auction.
While Crabtree has not disclosed his role in the meeting, it is known that he met not only with Sikh Temple members, but also with representatives from both cross-cultural and civil rights groups.
The Sacramento-area Sikh community took exception to Crabtree’s comment made at the April 12 meeting of the Board of Supervisors and invited Crabtree to meet with them so they could inform him about their religion and ask Crabtree to explain why he made the “rags” reference.
The meeting was facilitated by State Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, whose district closely borders Woodland and includes Modoc County. It was organized by Amar Shergill, a Sacramento attorney and Sacramento Sikh Temple board member.
Shergill, in an e-mail statement to the Modoc County Daily News, confirmed that Crabtree did meet with members of the Sikh Temple. Also present at the meeting were representatives of the Japanese American Citizens League, the Interfaith Service Bureau, the Council on American Islamic Relations and United Sikhs, an international non-profit organization affiliated with the United Nations.
"Loren Crabtree and his wife met with leaders from the Sacramento Sikh Community on April 28 at the offices of the Shergill Law Firm in Sacramento," Shergill said in his e-mail. “After watching a short multimedia presentation on the Sikh faith, Mr. Crabtree apologized for his remarks at the April 12 meeting of the Modoc County Board of Supervisors.”
Shergill confirmed that the Japanese American Citizens League, the Interfaith Service Bureau, the Council on American Islamic Relations and United Sikhs were represented at the meeting.
"We appreciate that Mr. Crabtree and his wife traveled such a long distance to meet with us and to address his unfortunate remarks,” Shergill stated. “He explained that he did not intend to offend anyone with his remarks, but now understands that his statements were offensive, particularly to the Sikh Community."
Shergill went on to say that elected officials such as Crabtree, who is chair of the Modoc County Board of Supervisors, have a responsibility not to encourage intolerance, and he also singled out members of the audience at the April 12 meeting who found Crabtree’s comments funny.
"In light of the recent attacks against Sikhs, it is especially important that elected officials like Mr. Crabtree act in a manner that does not encourage intolerance,” Shergill stated. “The Sikh community thanks Mr. Crabtree for recognizing the seriousness of this issue and for addressing it without delay.
“Mr. Crabtree will be making a statement at the May 10 supervisors’ meeting to bring closure to the matter. We trust that the attendees of the April 12 meeting that laughed at Mr. Crabtree's remarks will follow Mr. Crabtree's lead in altering their behavior."
Crabtree has not responded to numerous phone messages left seeking comment on his meeting and confirming that he will be making a statement at the May 10 Board of Supervisors session.
-- Ray A. March
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)