Oceano manager terminated

June 1, 2011

By KAREN VELIE

Oceano Community Services District’s general manager was terminated by the board following an almost four-hour closed session on Tuesday.

“I was accused of something I never did,” Raffaele Montemurro said. “When I said you have to treat everyone in an arbitrary and non-discriminating manner, the lawyer looked uncomfortable. Then they asked me to leave the room.”

Even though Montemurro, 59, said several times during the meeting that he believed directors Lori Angelo and Rick Searcy would vote to retain him, in the end, the board voted 5-0 to fire Montemurro.

Director Matt Guerrero said the details surrounding the board’s decision will be discussed at the next public meeting on June 8 because of closed door session rules.

On Sunday, Guerrero said several directors were investigating Montemurro because it appeared he had simultaneously paid himself for working full time and for being out sick, information uncovered exclusively by CalCoastNews.

“CalCoastNews turned us on to this problem,” Guerrero said. “I don’t think we would have found this without you.”

If terminated for cause, Montemurro won’t be entitled to severance pay, according to his employment contract.

However, if terminated in good standing, Montemurro is contracted to receive three months salary.

Montemurro earned $87,500 a year for managing the district, responsible for serving about 7,600 residents and business owners in Oceano and Halcyon with fire protection, street lighting, sewer and water services.