The Redwood City-based sewage treatment agency that made headlines a few years ago for paying $1.8 million to settle a sexual harassment case involving its general manager now has a new leader from Palo Alto.
Silicon Valley Clean Water — the sewer agency comprised of Redwood City, Belmont, San Carlos and Menlo Park’s West Bay Sanitary District — announced today (June 12) that it has hired Palo Alto Assistant Director of Utilities Matthew Zucca as its general manager following a nationwide search.
Zucca, a resident of Belmont, has served on the board of directors for the Midpeninsula Water District for over 20 years and has 30 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry.
Silicon Valley Clean Water, of SVCW, operates a treatment plant in Redwood City that processes the sewage from Redwood City, Belmont, San Carlos and Menlo Park’s West Bay Sanitary District.
SVCW was headed at one time by Dan Child, an engineer who was accused of sexually harassing one of his employees. Both Child and the victim left the SVCW. In 2018, SVCW’s board paid $875,000 to Child and $1 million to the former employee he was accused of harassing in settlement agreements.
The agency kept the settlements under wraps but the Daily Post learned about the payments and attempted to get the agreements. A 27-month-long legal battle followed and the Post prevailed. In fact, Child and SVCW paid the Post’s legal fees.
Child was replaced by Teresa Herrera, whose work included a capital improvement campaign and operational improvements. Zucca replaces Herrera.
“I’m honored to join a team so deeply committed to protecting public health and the environment,” said Zucca. “SVCW has long been a leader in wastewater treatment, and I look forward to building on that foundation by expanding public engagement and making sure our communities see and understand the value we provide every day.”
His annual salary at SVCW will be $410,481. However, in Palo Alto he made $268,549 last year not including benefits.