Board orders two‑week deadline on required ethics and harassment training after heated debate

The Montecito Sanitary District board spent more than an hour on April 8 debating how to handle required state ethics and harassment training for directors, eventually voting to give directors two weeks to finish outstanding courses and to place a future agenda item addressing consequences for noncompliance.

General Manager Andrew Weigel reported that three directors still needed one or both required courses. Director Roland (Rowland) sharply criticized the inaction and urged immediate compliance, saying, "Ignoring the trainings at this point after 3 months is a failure of character, a failure of professionalism, and a failure of leadership." Other board members urged flexibility and suggested using free webinars from CSDA or the FPPC as alternatives to staff‑purchased computer modules. Assistant General Counsel Taylor advised that in‑person or webinar options are available but cautioned about procedural and Brown Act pitfalls when directors coordinate outside a public meeting.

The board ultimately approved two motions. First, it directed staff to place an item on the next regular meeting agenda to discuss repercussions if any director has not completed both required trainings by the start of that meeting. Second, the board adopted a motion — accepted as a friendly amendment — that all board members be treated equally in how trainings and educational opportunities are offered and approved, so training access and opportunities are consistent across members. Earlier substitute proposals to change the originally agreed training method were considered and did not carry.

The motions create a short mandatory window for outstanding training completion and a follow‑up review of compliance and potential consequences; they do not yet specify particular disciplinary steps. Directors asked staff to identify free or low‑cost training options, and legal counsel signaled willingness to provide or coordinate training if needed.