The complaint further alleges that attorney Thurbon hatched a whistleblower status to protect Lowry, then accused Skeel of retaliation in a fallacious set of charges, which eventually collapsed under public interrogation by Skeel’s attorneys then reappeared in a bloated remediation plan that ultimately proved impossible, by intent, ensuring that Skeel would not succeed.

The board failed to act in good faith from the start, according to the complaint, overstating Skeel’s actual role in the district management hierarchy and failing to mention the crushingly bad staff morale he would inherit — the result of threats and retaliation from Lowry, who enjoyed a close personal relationship and the full support of Mattock.

The board allegedly failed to deliver key milestones in the employment contract, including goals and performance evaluations, and later “concocted … untrue, contrived and malicious” charges against Skeel to justify his termination while protecting Lowry, then reneged on a public promise to work through differences with their GM, according to the complaint.

John Skeel
John Skeel
El Dorado Hills Community Services District General Manager John Skeel has taken an unplanned leave of absence, reportedly at the encouragement of the CSD Board of Directors.

Skeel said he couldn’t discuss his leave but did call it “surprising.” He took the job in January 2011.

Neither Skeel or CSD officials have returned calls, but unofficial sources confirmed that Board President Guy Gertch chaired an all-staff meeting on Wednesday, June 22, and explained Skeel’s absence to the CSD employees as “personal.”

Skeel came in promising a district reorganization, but in recent board meetings the directors have rejected Skeel’s preliminary budget proposals.

One unnamed source conjectured that Skeel, who is very popular with the staff, was too concerned with staff and union concerns. Another said Skeel had completed an evaluation of district operations and created a plan, but was thwarted by the board in efforts to actively manage the district.

Skeel moved his family from Evergreen, Colo., to El Dorado Hills in December 2010.

The board chose him from 70 candidates for the position, offering an annual salary of $125,000.

At the time he was hired Skeel told Village Life, “It seemed like a good fit, the right place and the right time.”

Incumbents be gone. Thanks for wasting my tax dollars.