Valley Water CEO Rick Callender is stepping down after being on paid leave for the past 14 months, the agency announced yesterday.
Callender, who makes a $512,886 salary, will retire as CEO on March 1 and stay on as a paid advisor for the next year, Valley Water’s announcement said.
Board member Rebecca Eisenberg, who represents Palo Alto, has said publicly that employees complained about Callender sexually harassing them. His attorney Lori Costanzo confirmed that Callender was under investigation.
Callender went on leave on Dec. 16, 2024, days after Salam Baqleh, a labor union leader representing most of the agency’s 850 employees, publicly demanded an unnamed executive be placed on administrative leave after a lower employee named the boss in a formal misconduct complaint.
The union cited fears of retaliation against the employee due to the unnamed leader’s stature and power over the agency. After the union threatened to keep speaking publicly about the misconduct complaint, Callender stopped showing up to meetings.
The leave was first described as “medical” then as “voluntary.”
“At no time was Mr. Callender disciplined or forced to resign or retire due to any reported investigations,” board chair Tony Estremera said in a statement yesterday.
A severance agreement between Valley Water and Callender wasn’t available yesterday.
Callender has worked for Valley Water since 1996 and was appointed as CEO in May 2020.
Valley Water collects property taxes and manages flood control projects in northern Santa Clara County.
This isn’t new. The board of directors knew about allegations way before he became the CEO. They elected him anyways. He won’t be punished. He’ll keep his pension, medical, and be given a golden parachute severance package.
He is a very handsome and powerful man so occasional nuisances are unavoidable, unfortunate distractions. He is the knob and shaft that turns the Golden Spigot.
Handsome? I hope that’s sarcasm. He’s a narcissist and a bully. [portion deleted — language] He leads by fear and intimidation, rewards loyalty over competence. They should start removing all his minions that he promoted during his time as CEO. Start with the redhead who follows him around like a lost puppy that has Stockholm Syndrome. Then get rid of that corrupted Board Chair who enables this waste of public funds. Be furious fellow county tax payers!
They all act with immunity AND in plain sight. Do you still remember the misleading ballot language they used to extend their ride on the gravy train? At this point we are over $1,000,000 in wasted salary for that man (last year and next year), approved by the Board and paid for by the residents and customers. This valley has no backbone. Boy, you described the tip of the iceberg with your comments. If you only knew the full extent of his behavior. It will never be known. Our State Reps could easily prohibit NDAs in public agencies. Where are they?
When you say “They all act with immunity AND in plain sight” I wonder if you really meant “They all act with impunity AND in plain sight.
Impunity means they’re exempt from punishment, penalty or negative consequences for wrongful actions, allowing individuals or groups to act without fear of retribution.
Thank you for that correction. Much appreciated
I hope he gets to keep his gate keys and access to the best controlled fishing and waterfowl hunting spots in the county.
What exactly does this job entail that warrants a half million dollar salary?
Just more of the age old malfeasance from the Board. Mediocracy at its finest. You’d think with the money they overpay in salaries that they could hire some decent help. The CEO is a direct reflection of the people who hired him and continue to employ him. Where are our local government watchdogs?