Letter: Disappointing reaction from Lompico director

EDITOR,
In an effort to educate myself about the possible merger of Lompico County Water District with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, I have been attending as many meetings as possible. Although there have been many updates on the possible merger, I felt that it would be informative to have each board director formally state their position on the possible merger with SLVWD. I went to the district office and requested an item be placed on the regular board agenda asking each director to state their position on the possible merger and their reasons why they felt that way. I was told my request would be placed on the May 15 board meeting agenda.
At the May 15 meeting, directors Lois Henry, Bill Smallman and Rick Harrington stated they are for the merger for various reasons, including the high cost to run the 500-hook-up district, the current poor water quality and the capability of SLV to assure and administer a sustainable water supply in Lompico. Director Shannar Abraham said he has never been against or for the merger and that he’s interested in getting the best deal possible for the district. Director Sherwin Gott did not like the agenda item and refused to answer.
Gott said (the entire meeting was recorded), “I believe that this is totally ill-placed. I believe that this statement is basically a direct political action. It has nothing to do with the actions of running the district or the board; it’s been very clear what everybody’s position was, because our voting records are very clear on how we discussed the merger, and we’ve probably been voting on this for almost two years now. I find it highly distasteful that you would go ahead and try to say that you (Harrington) brought it on from a public, when you yourself put it on the agenda, but weren’t willing to take that credit.”
He called it purely political and then walked out of the room. Gott poked his head back in the meeting and said he’d like to see his statement as part of the minutes of the meeting.
I would like to thank the directors Henry, Abraham, Smallman and Harrington for their direct responses. I was extremely disappointed in director Gott’s failure to respond to my question, in that I was looking forward to having each director’s reasons and position so that I could make an informed decision on this critically important issue.
Brad Smith, Lompico