Fox Canyon GMA rescinds prior executive‑officer designation, discusses recruitment approach and job description

The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency board on Dec. 13 adopted a resolution rescinding an earlier 2005 board resolution that had designated the director of the Ventura County Watershed Protection District as the agency’s executive officer. The board also reviewed a draft job description for a permanent agency executive officer and discussed recruitment strategy, salary range publication and whether to use county human resources or an external recruiter.

Why it matters: the resolution removes a historic designation and clarifies that the agency’s executive officer position will be subject to annual performance evaluations by the GMA board. The item is part of a multi-step process to recruit and hire a permanent executive officer after the agency has been managed in an interim status.

Board action - Rescind prior delegation: The board adopted the resolution rescinding the 2005 resolution that had delegated executive‑officer functions and designated the Ventura County Watershed Protection District director as the agency’s executive officer. Roll call: Chair West — yes; Director Long — yes; Director Tremblay — yes; Director Kravioto/Caballero — yes. Outcome: approved.

Discussion and next steps Interim Executive Officer Arnie Ansall and staff presented a draft job description that lists duties, minimum qualifications (including five years of administrative experience in water resources management) and an as‑yet unfilled salary range. Board members and staff debated whether to use the county’s HR recruitment process or retain a commercial executive search firm; Ansall said county HR response times have delayed prior requests and that a commercial firm may be faster. The county’s CEO’s office and HR raised concerns about “compaction” (pay equity across county classifications) and asked for additional analysis before a salary range is published.

Contract vs. employee supervision Board members asked whether the executive officer role could be handled by a contractor rather than a county employee. Staff advised the board that, while the agency’s enabling statute permits contractors, an externally contracted executive officer could not directly supervise county staff if those staff remain county employees; staff called that a larger, ongoing governance question to be resolved.

Accountability Agency counsel and board members emphasized a single principle: regardless of employment mechanics, the executive officer position will be accountable to the GMA board. As one board member put it, the position "is fully accountable to the board of directors for the management of the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency." No recruitment action or salary was finalized at the meeting; staff will return with salary analysis and next steps.