The Plumas County Board of Supervisors settled a claim filed by former County Administrative Officer Debra Lucero, agreeing to pay her $300,000. The Nov. 13 agreement resolves Lucero’s claims of breach of contract, defamation and a variety of others set forth in her Oct. 13 prelitigation claim against the county.
Board Chair Supervisor Kevin Goss signed the agreement Nov. 13 but did not report the action. It was made public through a Public Records Act request filed by Linda Judge, a Plumas County attorney. The California Brown Act requires local legislative bodies to publicly report any final actions taken and the votes or abstentions in closed session, with minor exceptions.
Goss said the board gave him authority to negotiate a settlement with Lucero in an Oct. 14 closed session held by the county supervisors. Lucero was threatening to sue Plumas County, he said. “We were trying to stay out of litigation,” Goss told The Plumas Sun in a Dec. 21 telephone interview.
Because the county counsel’s office has a conflict of interest in representing the board in the claim filed by Lucero, the supervisors decided to hire an outside attorney, Goss said. The $300,000 paid to Lucero fell below the monetary ceiling approved by the board, he said, so the issue “was never brought back into closed session.”
“There were no budgetary implications with regard to our general fund, <so> our insurance company ended up paying the amount that was owed on the prelitigation settlement,” Goss said.
Goss and board Vice Chair Mimi Hall were the only supervisors made aware of the settlement amount, he said.
“In retrospect, looking back on this, I definitely am going to make decisions more public, probably sooner rather than later. Every day in life is a learning lesson and, unfortunately, that’s the way it is,” Goss said.
In addition to her major claims, Lucero’s suit asserted that the county failed to investigate complaints, protect whistleblowers and abide by civil service rules; had engaged in negligent hiring, supervision and training; and violated the Brown Act. Damages outlined in the suit included intentional infliction of emotional distress, reputational harm, economic injuries, lost wages and the loss of future wages, medical expenses, retirement and other benefits.
Lucero did not respond to a telephone call seeking her comment.
The Nov. 13 settlement “unconditionally and irrevocably” releases Plumas County from the claims asserted by Lucero, it states.
County employment
Lucero began serving as the Plumas County CAO Nov. 1, 2022. She was hired with an annual salary of $160,000 plus benefits. The supervisors placed her on paid administrative leave Jan. 21, 2025. They terminated the employment contract with Lucero effective April 15, exercising a clause in the contract that allowed them to take the action without citing a cause.
The termination action required payment of Lucero’s salary for 90 days after termination, until around July 13, Goss said.
During her 29-month tenure Lucero tackled major issues confronting the county. In addition to addressing the county’s obsolete energy systems, she contributed to filling the many department head positions vacated during the COVID pandemic and after the Dixie Fire.
In February 2024 Lucero filed a hostile workplace complaint against District Attorney David Hollister. An investigation in June 2024 found the complaint lacked evidence.
The search for a new CAO
The supervisors have been discussing filling the CAO position since shortly after terminating Lucero in April. They held numerous closed-session meetings and, in October, appeared close to hiring a candidate.
The offer “fell through,” said Supervisor Tom McGowan. “The candidate withdrew,” he added. McGowan made his comments Dec. 16 in response to questions from the public.
Also during the Dec. 16 meeting, the supervisors made changes in the responsibilities assigned to the CAO position that include consolidating two previous job descriptions into one. The position will now pay $100.15 as an hourly base wage, said Plumas County Human Resources Director Josh Mizrahi.
That is the average pay scale for comparable small counties in northern California. Trinity County, which is also seeking an administrative officer, offers $149.35 an hour as a base hourly wage, Mizrahi said.
The supervisors authorized him to begin recruiting to fill the vacant CAO position.
Legal settlement
The supervisors’ settlement agreement with Lucero appears below.
