El Dorado County (Sept 30, 2024) – Joe Harn Challenges El Dorado Hills CSD Board on Transparency and Accountability
In a recent El Dorado Hills Community Services District (CSD) board meeting, former property owner and resident Joe Harn raised pressing concerns about the board’s decisions regarding park development, outside employment for senior staff, and transparency. During the meeting, Harn questioned the board’s handling of a major project—a 12.5-acre park near Bass Lake, initiated in August 2020—and how this aligned with their approval of a senior staff member’s outside employment just six weeks later.
Harn pointed out that the board’s approval of outside employment occurred in violation of the Brown Act through what he called a “serial meeting.” He highlighted a contradiction between the board’s obligation to swiftly build the park and the decision to allow staff to take on outside work. Harn also criticized the board for failing to disclose this outside employment, despite commitments to transparency, and questioned why compensation increases for senior staff, who were previously granted outside employment, were supported without informing the public.
Moreover, Harn took issue with the district’s financial relationship with the California Special Districts Association (CSDA), accusing the board members of wasting taxpayer funds on ineffective training and conferences. Citing the need for Brown Act training identified by the board’s new legal counsel, he questioned whether the CSD’s relationship with CSDA was yielding any meaningful results.
Harn’s questions have sparked ongoing discussions about the need for greater transparency and accountability within the El Dorado Hills CSD board.
