Less than two weeks after the San Benito County Board of
Supervisors voted to fire long-time Planning Director Rob Mendiola,
the department’s second in command resigned from his post.
Hollister – Less than two weeks after the San Benito County Board of Supervisors voted to fire long-time Planning Director Rob Mendiola, the department’s second in command resigned from his post.
Deputy Director Fred Goodrich finished his last day with the department May 10, after giving acting County Administrative Officer Susan Lyons about 48 hours notice of his intent to resign – the same length of notice the county gave Mendiola.
“It will leave a hole in the planning department in the short-term,” Lyons said. “But Mr. (Michael) Bethke (interim planning director) can hire someone to come in and pick up the work load.”
Lyons said she believes Goodrich’s decision was largely influenced by the board’s decision to fire Mendiola, who had directed the planning department for more than two decades until he was terminated earlier this month.
“He gave a litany of negative reasons,” Lyons said. “He said that the planning department was falling apart under my administration.”
County Supervisor Anthony Botelho said Goodrich’s resignation coming on the heels of Mendiola being fired is, “pure coincidence.”
“It’s not really a surprise,” he said. “We’ve felt that some associate planners might be exploring other employment options. Our county has quite a bit lower salaries compared to other counties.”
Goodrich has been hired on as the new planning manager for the City of Los Banos. He began working there this week, according to Los Banos City Clerk Lucy Mallonee.
“We had been going through a long recruitment, and he was the successful candidate,” she said.
Goodrich could not be located for comment.
In March, Mendiola and the planning department were the subject of a county investigation, stemming from allegations by two building inspectors that Mendiola was involved in corrupt behavior with former Supervisor Richard Scagliotti. Scagliotti was accused of using his position as a county supervisor for financial gain.
The investigation was completed late last month, but Lyons said the board is not releasing its findings because they involve pending litigation in the ongoing case against Scagliotti. Mendiola was exonerated of any criminal activity by the investigation according to County Counsel Claude Biddle.
The Board of Supervisors voted to fire Mendiola on May 3 for undisclosed reasons. His replacement, Interim Planning Department Director Michael Bethke, started work on Monday.
Despite recent the recent turbulence experienced by the department, Botelho said that it is continuing to work toward being effective and efficient.
“Like all departments we are looking to improve our efforts in the most cost-effective manner,” he said. “We hope to ultimately improve procedures to become more efficient.”
Luke Roney covers politics and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at
lr****@fr***********.com
