Bear Valley Community Services District will have three new members of its Board of Directors when that body convenes on Thursday, Dec. 12. The 6 p.m. meeting will be held at district headquarters, 28999 S. Lower Valley Road in Bear Valley Springs.
Newly-elected directors Paul Paparella, Claude Tabor and Michael Lewis were sworn into office on Dec. 6. They will join incumbents Martin Hernandez and Geva Frevert. Director John Grace did not seek reelection.
Lewis was appointed to the board on April 11 to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Charles Jensen. He and Paparella were in a four-way contest for two four-year terms on the board. Paparella received the most votes -- 2,190 -- with Lewis receiving 1,218.
Tabor was in a three-way contest for a two-year term on the board. He received the most votes -- 1,280 -- with appointed incumbent Judith Cagle trailing at 1,044 votes. Cagle was appointed in July 2023 to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Terry Quinn.
The agenda for the Dec. 12 meeting is expected to be posted online by Tuesday, Dec. 10. It will be available at bvcsd.org/agendas.
Staff changes
In advance of the board's regular meeting on Nov. 14, it met in a special meeting closed session to discuss receipt of the resignation of Wesley Shryock. His resignation from the interim general manager position was effective Nov. 22. In a press release on Nov. 18, the district said Shryock had accepted employment with another public agency.
Shryock joined the CSD as interim GM in May 2023. He replaced William Malinen, who retired.
Previously, Shryock spent about nine years with the Bear Valley Springs Association. He worked in progressively responsible positions, including assistant general manager, before being appointed general manager of the association.
In an email on Dec. 4, Shryock said he did leave the district for a job with another agency but has been reemployed by the district.
The same day, the district issued a news release reporting that Shryock had rejoined the Bear Valley CSD as the administrative services director.
According to the news release, the position is responsible for planning, managing, overseeing, and directing the operations and services of the Administrative Services Department. The position will oversee the district's human resources, administration, finance, risk management, communications, and IT operations. The position will also play a key role in onboarding and supporting the district's GM once the Board of Directors fills that position.
The administrative services director position existed in the district from 2018 to 2022, according to the news release.
On Nov. 14, the CSD Board of Directors provided an update on recruiting for the GM position. According to the news release, applications closed on Nov. 13 and the board has a pool of qualified applicants. Interviews are expected to be held this month.
The Dec. 4 news release stated that temporary hiring authority for staff-level positions had previously been delegated to the CSD Acting Chief of Police in accordance with established procedures authorized in the CSD personnel manual in order to maintain continuity of district affairs in the absence of an acting general manager.
On Dec. 3, the district issued a news release apparently intended to squash rumors regarding the recent departure of another employee.
"The Bear Valley Community Services District has seen rumors spread regarding a former employee that we need to correct," the news release stated.
"Our former Director of Finance served the district from Aug. 2019 until Friday, Nov. 22. The Interim General Manager at the time, Wes Shryock, was not involved in the decisions related to that employee's departure.
"Out of respect for personnel confidentiality and privacy, we are unable to provide further comment," the release concluded.
Claudia Elliott is a freelance journalist. She can be reached by email: [email protected].