Silicon Valley water agency to pay 3 CEOs at once including ex-chief acused of sexually harassing staff

A powerful Silicon Valley water agency earned the nickname “the Golden Spigot” for frequently flushing taxpayer money down the drain — and now it’s preparing to keep three generations of CEOs on the payroll at once.The Santa Clara Valley Water District plans to pay three current and former chief executives simultaneously starting in January, including a former CEO who received a $500,000 “golden handshake” after outside investigators found he sexually harassed employees.Valley Water’s incoming CEO, Aaron Baker, will start in January with an annual salary of nearly $507,000.Meanwhile, interim CEO Melanie Richardson will remain with the agency through June 2027 as “transition chief executive,” at an annual pay rate of almost $512,000.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story All of this will occur while former CEO Rick Callender remains a paid special adviser through February of next year.

Callender resigned effective March 1 after an outside investigation found he sexually harassed employees.The investigation found that Callender sexually harassed two female employees over a period of years, including lewd comments about romantic activities and sending inappropriate photos.Callender, who has since been sued by one of the women, denied any wrongdoing.The three execs will collect overlapping paychecks for nearly two months.

Their combined salaries for the portions of 2027 covered by those arrangements will total approximately $840,000 — before benefits.“It does remind me of the show ‘Parks and Recreation’ — sometimes funny things happen in government,” said Gary Kremen, a former water district board member.The district board voted 6-1 to keep Callender for another year at his existing salary and benefits.Callender has disputed the findings,...