During a discussion about contract extensions for two department
heads at the San Benito County Board of Supervisors meeting today,
Chairman Anthony Botelho said employees would have to
”
screw up bad
”
to be fired from a government position.
HOLLISTER
During a discussion about contract extensions for two department heads at the San Benito County Board of Supervisors meeting today, Chairman Anthony Botelho said employees would have to “screw up bad” to be fired from a government position.
The board was considering, and ultimately approved, contract extensions for Assistant County Administrative Officer Rich Inman and Planning Director Art Henriques through January 2013 and June 2013, respectively.
The supervisors, though, voted 4-1 to reduce the potential severance period for the two employees from six months to three months and approved the contracts.
Much of the conversation among board members centered on the length of severance pay for the two contracts.
“It’s hard to get fired from a government position,” Botelho said in reference to severance pay. “You have to screw up bad.”
Supervisor Margie Barrios said that six months worth of severance in “not necessary.”
County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson, however, said that a six-month severance is a standard practice in the county.
She said that the only time she has given a county employee severance pay was when former Public Works Director Jerry Lo was fired in December 2008, which was approved by the board. She added that in the case of these two employees, severance will most likely not have to be used.
Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz suggested the board wait until it has budget hearings to adopt the new contracts, but Supervisor Reb Monaco said he “strongly supports” approving them today.
Supervisor Pat Loe said this “is a slap in the face” to those department heads who do not have contracts. She said after the meeting that either every department head should have a contract or no one should.
