Luckily, I’m not served by the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD). That’s because the Orange County Register disclosed that the OCSD has been paying a “spiritual counselor” $15,000 per month (or $180,000 per year). The Register reported on July 12th that Dharma Consulting would have made $570,000 by the expiration of its’ contract.
That smells pretty bad: spiritual sewage?
The OCSD finally realized that Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine) might be right when he said, “What if a local government decided to bring in a representative of a nearby Catholic diocese to help coach their city employees on spirituality, teamwork and ethics? … The ACLU would sue more quickly than you could say, ‘Establishment Clause.'” The OCSD ended the contract; Dharma Consulting is left with its’ take to date ($400,000).
Blake Anderson, OCSD General Manager noted, speaking to the Register, that, “While I certainly understand and respect the concern raised about the cost and length of the contract, the intention and outcome has ALWAYS been directed toward one thing: making the Sanitation District a highly effective and efficient public agency.” The contract was cut on the 19th.
But that’s not the end of the story. The Register reported today that Anderson has offered to resign.
For the record, my home and office are served by the Irvine Ranch Water District, which, as far as I know, hasn’t jumped on this particular fadconsulting program.