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YLWD Dirty Laundry Exposed
Opinion
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General Manager Barbre Walked Away With Almost $200,00
Thank you for publishing the recent articles detailing the various questionable actions and outright strategies that are happening in our local elections. You won’t believe these very questionable actions. Today you published a letter from Jon Hansen of the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association that detailed the well paid exit from the Yorba Linda Water District that Brett Barbre pulled off earlier this year. He walked away with almost $200K and avoided getting fired, and now he wants to be on the board.
Somehow Brett Barbre, under very suspicious circumstances, was hired into the district.
Here is What Transpired Back in 2016 and 2017:
In November of 2016, the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association ran a very effective recall campaign to recall two of the YLWD Board Members who had put in place a massive five year rate increase. Two of the new board members who replaced the recalled board members were endorsed by the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association. There were also two open board positions and a third new board member was elected who was endorsed by the YLTA. That left a 4th board seat available which was won by a non-YLTA endorsed candidate. This new board member was Andy Hall, and he was in fact backed by the old board and he hired Brett Barbre as his campaign consultant. So in November of 2016 Andy Hall was voted to the YLWD Board of Directors and Brett Barbre was his campaign consultant.
Assistant General Manager Position Created
That in itself was fine, but what was to follow in a few short months is what is problematic. This sets the scene for the problems to arrive shortly. In early 2017, it was proposed to the new YLWD board of directors that a new Assistant General Manager position be created for the district. In a unanimous vote, the board approved the creation of the new Assistant General Manager position for the water district.
Barbre Forgave Andy Hall's Campaign Debt
During the early months of 2017 while the discussions and vote were taking place regarding the assistant general manager position, another very interesting situation was developing. Candidates for office must file a California Election Form 460 every six months during and after their campaign as long as they have either left over campaign funds or carry over debts from their campaign. A review of Andy Hall's Form 460 for January 1 through June 30, 2017 reveals that during the first six months of 2017 Brett Barbre forgave a debt of $2750 that Andy Hall owed to him for campaign consulting services.
Laundry Gets Dirty
Here is where the laundry gets dirty - On July 17, 2017 within four weeks of the board approving the creation of the assistant general manager position and within months of Andy Hall's debt to Brett Barbre being forgiven, Barbre receives a formal employment offer to be the newly created assistant general manager for the YL Water District. You can connect the dots and come to question the appropriateness for the hiring of Brett Barbre into the district.
Here is a Quick Timeline:
November 7, 2016 - Andy Hall elected to YLWD Board of Directors with Brett Barbre as his campaign consultant.
January 1 - June 30, 2017 - Brett Barbre forgives $2750 campaign consulting debt owed by Andy Hall.
June 2017 - Yorba Linda Water District Board votes 5-0 to create Assistant General Manager position and authorizes candidate search.
July 17, 2017 - Brett Barbre is given a formal job offer to be the Assistant General Manager for the YLWD.
His recent exit from the district to me is somewhat suspicious in regard to the very suspect hiring process. Can you feel comfortable with him as a candidate. I cannot……………….
Mary Carbone
Concerned 50 Year Resident of Yorba Linda
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