Minutes after the Santa Clara Valley Water District board of
directors gave its departing general manager a 7.2 percent raise,
Stan Williams informed the board he would retire Jan. 31, 2008.
SAN JOSE
Minutes after the Santa Clara Valley Water District board of directors gave its departing general manager a 7.2 percent raise, Stan Williams informed the board he would retire Jan. 31, 2008.
Last week, Williams told district employees of his intention to retire, but didn’t give a date. The announcement Tuesday came following an annual performance review conducted by the board in a closed session over two days last week.
The board decided to hold a closed session today to discuss naming an interim replacement for Williams and begin planning a search for a permanent replacement.
“Stan has done some really good things,” said the board’s vice chair Rosemary Kamei, who represents District 1, which includes South County. “It’s going to be a big vacuum to fill. But, there’s also opportunity for changes in the district.”
Williams made his announcement in a 3-page letter, which he read out loud at the request of Sig Sanchez, who also represents South County as an “at large” director. In addition to highlighting the district’s accomplishments during his 13-year tenure in the top job, Williams also hinted at some internal problems stemming from his appointment of former board director Gregory Zlotnick to a high-paying, newly created position last July. Patrick Kwok has since replaced Zlotnick on the board.
“In recent months I have grown concerned about the strain within the board, and about its impact on board morale and on the organization,” Williams said. “… It may just be time for an organizational change.”
Williams presented the letter as part of his regular report to the board, which was the agenda item immediately following an item to discuss his pay increase. Based on his performance review between July 1, 2006 and June 31, 2007, the board voted 6-1 to give Williams a 7.2 percent increase. Director Joe Judge was the “no” vote.
Judge said he thought the 3.9 percent increase given to all district employees to offset inflation and cost-of-living increases was enough.
To stay competitive and attract quality workers, the district pays its unclassified employees, which include Williams, in the 60th percentile comparable to the other organizations, said spokeswoman Susan Siravo.
According to board chairman Tony Estremera, the board at a previous meeting postponed discussion of increasing Williams’ base pay because labor negotiations were in progress and directors didn’t want to “prejudice” them.
Tuesday’s increase brings Williams’ monthly salary to $20,842 from $19,445 and into the 60th percentile as compared to 10 managers and executives from other agencies, according to a chart prepared by Jose Peralez of the district’s human resources office.
Williams’ salary is between that of the general managers of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the Contra Costa Water District.
Williams base salary was slightly more than $240,000 in 2006. In retirement, he is entitled to receive 55 percent of his most recent salary.
Although Williams and the water district have been criticized by individuals and in the press for excessive spending, in particular paying employees too much, several people had positive comments about Williams.
“Under Stan’s leadership, the district has become much more effective in environmental stewardship,” said Richard Roos-Collins, legal services director of the Natural Heritage Institute.
“Stan helped the district make tremendous progress in protecting and restoring local watersheds for water supply, fisheries, recreation and other beneficial uses.”
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said under Williams’ “leadership the district has become a much more collaborative agency and he has identified solutions that benefit our local residents and businesses.”
