RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Rancho Murieta Community Services District General Manager Mimi Morris, who has been on paid administrative leave since Jan. 6, may soon return to work.

Following a closed session on March 14, Rancho Murieta Community Services District Vice-President John Merchant announced the board’s decision upon returning to open session.

“As a result of the closed session today, we took a vote of four to nothing of the board that was present,” Merchant said. “The general manager will be returning from administrative leave. That is the end of the statement.” 

The session addressed two agenda items: “Conference with legal counsel – anticipated litigation” and “Public employee discipline/dismissal/release, administrative leave status.” The closed session lasted just over an hour.

President Steve Booth was excluded from the closed session. The remaining board members conferred by phone with a colleague of District Counsel Patrick Enright and an attorney representing the Golden State Risk Management Authority, the district’s insurer.

When contacted for comment, Morris stated that she had not been informed about the 10 a.m. special meeting and was only notified of the board’s decision at the end of the day. She added that her return date was still to be determined.

 “Recall that I was originally placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation of Director Booth’s behavior. However, I have not yet been interviewed for the investigation and have no knowledge that it has begun,” Morris said in an email. “That being said, I look forward to returning to the district – hopefully to a non-hostile and non-retaliatory environment – so that we can continue making progress on important district business.”

Morris has been on paid leave since Jan. 6, when the board held a special session to evaluate her performance. 

Before the board adjourned to a closed session—excluding Booth—Morris publicly accused him of retaliation, discrimination and harassment. She also revealed that she had filed an internal complaint against Booth following the November board meeting.

Booth responded on Jan. 7, stating, “I categorically deny that there has been any discrimination against her for any reason.”

During the Jan. 6 closed session, the board voted 4-0 to place Morris on administrative leave pending an investigation of her grievance. Two days later, Morris’ attorney filed a government claim against the district, elaborating on her allegations against Booth. Under California law, employees are required to file a government claim before initiating a lawsuit against a governmental entity, allowing time for potential resolution before litigation.

The board met again in closed session prior to the Feb. 19 meeting’s open session to consider Morris’ government claim. Booth later announced that the board had voted unanimously to deny her claim.

Contacted by the River Valley Times after the February meeting, District Counsel Patrick Enright confirmed that Morris would have six months to file a lawsuit following the board’s denial of her government claim. Enright said Golden State Risk Management Authority was handling her claim and Kramer Workplace Investigations was investigating her grievance. He confirmed that Morris remained on paid administrative leave.