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A longstanding rift among the Nevada Irrigation District's five elected directors turned personal Wednesday during a discussion on how best to select board officers.
Two weeks ago, the water board's most senior member, Director Nancy Weber, accused three fellow directors of discrimination when they failed to support her as vice chairwoman of the board.
Though she has represented the Nevada City area in District 1 since 1998, Weber never has chaired the board. She is the second woman in NID's 88-year history to serve on the governing board.
“The chair has a great deal of influence,” Weber said. “It's important every person gets an opportunity to sit in the chair position.”
Weber supports a rotational system of selecting officers, rather than the majority-vote system the board uses.
Division 5 Director Nick Wilcox, who nominated Weber for the vice chair position two weeks ago, said he “leans weakly” to a rotational system.
What was supposed to be a discussion about moving to a rotational system turned into an emotional display of conflict among board members.
Board Chairman John Drew called Weber's remarks of discrimination, “blatant accusations, untruths” and “repugnant statements.”
“I have taken particular attention my entire life to make sure my female counterparts are duly recognized,” Drew said. He then listed Weber's past actions that has led him to question her objectivity.
When former NID Director R. Paul Williams stepped down from the Division 4 post representing Placer County, Weber favored organic farmer William Morebeck to replace him. The board majority instead voted to appoint retired construction manager Jim Bachman.
Weber had accused Placer County Supervisor Robert Weygandt of voting to support Bachman after his family purchased property from Bachman.
Drew said that purchase never happened. “That is a false statement,” Drew said.
Her accusation that Williams lobbied on Bachman's behalf to members of the Placer County Board of Supervisors, which voted to support Bachman, was unfair, Drew added. He said Weber lobbied the supervisors on Morebeck's behalf.
Drew also noted how Weber contributed a small amount of money to the campaign of Miller's opponent, Michael Straight, last November.
Weber has opposed delivering NID water to a treatment plant being built in Lincoln to serve future growth when residents with poorly producing wells in western Nevada County can't get hooked up.
Weber declined to discuss the meeting's events with The Union.
Weber polarizes the board, is not a team leader and does not build consensus, said NID Director Scott Miller.
By meeting's end, Drew shifted from his original interest in a rotational system of leadership, instead voting to keep things as they are. Miller and Bachman agreed.
Two weeks ago, the water board's most senior member, Director Nancy Weber, accused three fellow directors of discrimination when they failed to support her as vice chairwoman of the board.
Though she has represented the Nevada City area in District 1 since 1998, Weber never has chaired the board. She is the second woman in NID's 88-year history to serve on the governing board.
“The chair has a great deal of influence,” Weber said. “It's important every person gets an opportunity to sit in the chair position.”
Weber supports a rotational system of selecting officers, rather than the majority-vote system the board uses.
Division 5 Director Nick Wilcox, who nominated Weber for the vice chair position two weeks ago, said he “leans weakly” to a rotational system.
What was supposed to be a discussion about moving to a rotational system turned into an emotional display of conflict among board members.
Board Chairman John Drew called Weber's remarks of discrimination, “blatant accusations, untruths” and “repugnant statements.”
“I have taken particular attention my entire life to make sure my female counterparts are duly recognized,” Drew said. He then listed Weber's past actions that has led him to question her objectivity.
When former NID Director R. Paul Williams stepped down from the Division 4 post representing Placer County, Weber favored organic farmer William Morebeck to replace him. The board majority instead voted to appoint retired construction manager Jim Bachman.
Weber had accused Placer County Supervisor Robert Weygandt of voting to support Bachman after his family purchased property from Bachman.
Drew said that purchase never happened. “That is a false statement,” Drew said.
Her accusation that Williams lobbied on Bachman's behalf to members of the Placer County Board of Supervisors, which voted to support Bachman, was unfair, Drew added. He said Weber lobbied the supervisors on Morebeck's behalf.
Drew also noted how Weber contributed a small amount of money to the campaign of Miller's opponent, Michael Straight, last November.
Weber has opposed delivering NID water to a treatment plant being built in Lincoln to serve future growth when residents with poorly producing wells in western Nevada County can't get hooked up.
Weber declined to discuss the meeting's events with The Union.
Weber polarizes the board, is not a team leader and does not build consensus, said NID Director Scott Miller.
By meeting's end, Drew shifted from his original interest in a rotational system of leadership, instead voting to keep things as they are. Miller and Bachman agreed.
