Triunfo board moves toward full elections
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

Triunfo Sanitation District Board of Directors took a major step this week toward becoming an all-elected body.

Previous motions by Triunfo board members Linda Parks and Janna Orkney to have all five members of the panel be elected were defeated by the three other board members, Ron Stark, Tom Glancy and Jim Acosta. At the board's July 16 meeting, however, only Acosta remained adamant about keeping three members appointed and two members elected, the way it is now.

"I will not support the move to change the board because I feel the board has done a good job for ratepayers," Acosta said.

The board's apparent change of heart came about as a result of a Ventura County Grand Jury report last month that criticized Triunfo's makeup and lack of independence from the the Ventura Regional Sanitation District. A complaint to the grand jury prompted the investigation.

Triunfo is in the process of preparing a response to the grand jury's report.

Triunfo, which oversees water and sanitation services in Oak Park, North Ranch, Bell Canyon, Lake Sherwood and parts of Thousand Oaks, is run by a five-member board, only two of whom are elected. The others members are appointed. The district has no staff, but contracts with Ventura Regional for management services, including financial and legal.

The grand jury report recommended Triunfo retain a different general manager, law firm and auditor other than Ventura Regional. An investment oversight by Ventura Regional last year resulted in the loss of approximately $100,000 in interest earnings for Triunfo, an amount that was later reimbursed to the agency.

Orkney urged the Triunfo board to approve an atlarge, general election in which residents vote on all five board seats.

"I'm having people come up to me in the community and say 'It's a no-brainer. Why aren't we electing like everybody else?'" Orkney said. "We deserve representation for our taxation."

Stark recommended holding an election in which voters would choose their board representative by district so that each community that Triunfo serves has equal representation.

"I want to protect the community of Oak Park and I think an at-large election does not do that," said Stark, who lives in Oak Park. "I want everybody in Triunfo to be part of Triunfo. Everything has to balance out. That's the only way I'll vote for it."

"I'm willing to do whatever you're comfortable with to get there. If this is the only way to get a third vote I'm all for it," Parks said.

Glancy said all board members have the district's "best interest in mind" and said he supported Stark's recommendation.

"I think an all-elected board is hunky-dory," Glancy said.

Several residents at the meeting expressed satisfaction with the board's actions.

"Hurrah. It's about time," Sue Boecker said.

Stark suggested forming a committee or hiring a consultant to study the election matter. But Parks preferred contacting the Ventura County Elections Division directly to avoid spending additional time and money. Triunfo staff will find out what such an election would cost. The staff will obtain the information and present it to the board.