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Fox Canyon GMA engages LightGabler for county personnel‑agreement negotiations
Summary
The board authorized an engagement letter with LightGabler (John Light) to represent the agency in negotiations with Ventura County on an updated labor/personnel services agreement; Acting Executive Officer Jeff Palmer disclosed a past law‑firm relationship with the named attorney and said there is no conflict.
The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency authorized an engagement letter on June 13 to retain the LightGabler firm (John Light) to represent the agency in negotiations with Ventura County over a longstanding labor or personnel services agreement.
Why it matters: the agency’s current agreement with the county dates to 1983 and staff said changes in the agency’s scope and the county relationship make an updated, modern agreement appropriate. County counsel cannot represent both the county and the agency in those negotiations, so the agency voted to hire outside counsel for the limited purpose of negotiating a new services agreement.
Disclosure and process: Acting Interim Executive Officer Jeff Palmer disclosed that John Light was his former law partner at Norton Cormier in Compton, but Palmer said he had no conflict and would not let that affect the recommendation. The board moved, seconded and voted to authorize the engagement letter; the motion carried.
Next steps: staff will execute the engagement letter for LightGabler for the limited purpose described and return to the board with any proposed agreement or cost implications if negotiations proceed to the point of requiring board approval.
