OPEN MEETINGS — The Yuba Community College District Board has reversed its grant of a $29,000 raise to its chancellor, unlawfully approved in a recent closed session, after a demand for correction by Richard McKee, founding president of Californians Aware, speaking for himself and CalAware. As reported by Erin Tracy in the Woodland Daily Democrat,
A unanimous vote to rescind a pay increase decision
in light of alleged Brown Act violations was not an admission of guilt,
according to the Yuba Community College Board of Trustees."It
is my belief we did not break the Brown Act but we want to avoid
litigation," said Trustee Brent Hastey on Wednesday in Yuba City. "We
can fight this and spend money we don't have … but right, wrong or
indifferent we are rescinding the decision."At a Jan. 20 meeting the board approved a $29,282 raise for its Chancellor, Nicki Harrington, during a closed session meeting.
A
Jan. 26 Daily Democrat story chronicling the alleged violation caught
the attention of nonprofit, Californians Aware, who submitted a formal
Demand for Correction to the board.With the raise, Harrington's salary would equal $249,282 per year.
The
board called a special meeting Wednesday in which it rescinded its
decision, but maintained plans to move forward with a raise following
discussion with an appointed negotiator on Harrington's behalf.
