By Rio Linda Online Editorial Staff
Rio Linda has always been a community of resilient, hardworking people who just want the basics: safe roads, good schools, and clean, reliable water. But for nearly 25 years, the directors of the Rio Linda Elverta Community Water District (RLECWD) have treated those basics like a secondary concern, prioritizing internal bickering and legal warfare over infrastructure and fiscal sanity.
The recent Unfair Practice Charges filed by Teamsters Local 150—alleging gun-toting threats, “stalking” accusations against a recovering gunshot victim, and leaked confidential documents—are, unfortunately, not a new low. They are simply the latest chapter in a book we’ve been trying to close for two decades.
A Pattern of Disregard: From Public Boardrooms to Private Business
This isn’t just about what’s happening at the Water District office. To understand the current climate, we have to look at the leadership’s history of treating employees across the board.
In late 2025, Rio Linda Online reported on a massive labor investigation involving REO Mechanical, the HVAC firm headquartered right here on Rio Linda Boulevard. That company is operated by President and CEO Director Maria Liverett.
The City of San Jose issued a staggering $717,592 in fines against REO Mechanical for what was described as a “pattern of labor violations” on an affordable housing project. The allegations included:
- Wage Theft: Over $225,000 in restitution directly owed to workers for late or underpayment.
- Withholding Benefits: Failure to contribute to workers’ 401(k) plans.
- Retaliation: At least one worker alleged he was fired specifically for raising questions about his pay.
When you look at these charges alongside the current legal battle at the Water District—where Director Liverett is accused of attempting to bypass the Union, leaking closed-session minutes, and targeting employees like Pat Goyet—a troubling trend emerges. Whether it’s at her own private company or on a public board, there appears to be a consistent history of taking actions against—and advantage of—the people who keep the gears turning andthe water running.
The Rising Cost of “Personal Vendettas”
Every time a Director bypasses the Union (known as “direct dealing”) or retaliates against an employee, the meter starts running. Under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA), these actions are strictly prohibited, and the District is legally required to defend them using taxpayer-funded counsel.
Why your water bill is paying for lawyers instead of pipes:
- Mandatory Defense: The District must pay attorneys to investigate these claims, file formal responses, and defend the Directors’ actions in front of the state’s Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).
- The “Double-Whammy” Penalty: If the District loses, they don’t just pay their own legal bills; the Union is seeking “make-whole” remedies. This means the District would be forced to reimburse the Union’s legal costs as well.
- Public Accountability: The Union is pushing for more than just a fine. They are demanding a formal “Cease and Desist” and a requirement that Director Liverett verbally admit to the violations in front of all employees.
As the Union stated in their filing, “Through her actions, Liverett perpetuates a culture of severe disrespect and disregard for bargaining unit employees.” They argue that a simple paper notice isn’t enough to fix the environment she has created.
A 25-Year “Legacy of Dysfunction”
For those who haven’t been in town for the last two decades, this “legacy” is an old, expensive story. Since the early 2000s, the District has been a revolving door of drama:
- 2007–2010: The Sacramento County Grand Jury issued scathing reports titled “A Saga of Mismanagement” and “Legacy of Dysfunction.” The District was in such disarray that the state issued a moratorium on new water connections.
- 2012: The situation became so volatile the District lost its liability insurance. No provider wanted to touch an agency that was constantly being sued by its own employees.
- The Revolving Door: We’ve seen a string of General Managers forced out, resulting in over $350,000 in settlements and legal fees that once ballooned to $700,000 in a single year.
Rio Linda Doesn’t Deserve This
The Grand Jury once said the District’s problems “poison the relationship between general managers and staff.” With current allegations of firearm threats at the District and wage theft in San Jose, it seems that poison is back in the well. We are calling on the Board to remember that you were elected to serve the ratepayers, not to engage in high-stakes workplace drama at our expense.
We’ve been here before. We didn’t like it then, and we certainly can’t afford it now.
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