County Administrative Officer of Plumas County, Debra Lucero, has filed a formal complaint against the county’s District Attorney, David Hollister, for creating a hostile work environment.
Normally, this type of complaint would have been brought to the HR department, but CAO Lucero holds that role due to the ongoing investigation into former HR Director Nancy Selvage. Therefore, the board had to take on the matter; Supervisor Greg Hagwood responded that the board has to do their due diligence and will be hiring an independent investigator to look into the claim’s validity. Hagwood confirmed the investigator will have had no previous relationship with the county.
Lucero also asked the board to pay for her attorney fees during the February 20th meeting because she believed she would require the services of one, anticipating the investigators would find cause to her complaint. Yet county counsel was in opposition, saying her request was premature because counsel had responded to the grievances appropriately. The supervisors agreed to table the issue until the need arises, depending on the outcome of the investigation.
DA Hollister spoke following the discussions, stating he has been kept out of the loop and will be writing and requesting indemnity and representation by the county as is his right to recieve.
Likely to return to the board, Hagwood noted, “This issue is far from over.”
