Oceano’s general manager terminated for cause
April 17, 2013
The Oceano Community Services District Board voted Tuesday afternoon to terminate its general manager for cause.
In closed session, the board voted 4-1 to terminate Geaslen’s employment, with board member Karen White dissenting from her room at a local care facility.
As part of a settlement agreement, former General Manager Tom Geaslen must pay the district back $36,962 by April 24. The board and Geaslen also agreed to not discuss the nature of the dispute or make disparaging comments about the other party.
Geaslen first started working for the district in June 2011, a month after his predecessor Raffaele Montemurro was terminated without cause. Geaslen’s base salary was set at $126,000 a year.
His termination comes amid a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department investigation into allegations that Geaslen committed perjury when he claimed he was an IRS-approved enrolled agent on his Form 700 statement of economic interest, which was signed under the penalty of perjury.
In the past, the OCSD Board of Directors has been supportive Geaslen amid issues such as failing to file required reports to the state on time, and operating a corporation after it had been suspended by the California Franchise Tax Board. The IRS terminated Geaslen’s enrolled agent status in 2009.
In addition, Geaslen’s consulting invoices with the district, in which he lists himself as an EA, are for several thousand dollars more than what is listed on his 1099’s for 2011 and 2012.
The comments below represent the opinion of the writer and do not represent the views or policies of CalCoastNews.com. Please address the Policies, events and arguments, not the person. Constructive debate is good; mockery, taunting, and name calling is not. Comment Guidelines