Numerous former and current female employees have accused LaVault of harassment and intimidation, which has brought the organization into several gender-discrimination suits and a host of bad publicity. The Daily Journal was unable to reach either LaVault or Board President Carmen Jordan-Cox for comment.
San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill heard the news from other informed sources and said, "To me the issue is whether he stays or goes, and the issue for the county is that there be no discrimination on county property. And if leaving is the only way to guarantee that, that would be a good thing."
Hill has led the county's fight to gain accountability from the organization, which leases its Coyote Point property for $1 a month and receives nearly $4 million annually for the county's animal control services. Last month, the county board requested that PHS provide details of its sexual harassment policy, under threat of a possible re-negotiation in the terms of its lease. Hill said that LaVault's departure would solve the issues the county has with PHS.
News of LaVault's impending departure comes on the heels of another important PHS board decision to move forward with board elections. Two weeks ago the board voted to settle with Linda DeCelles and Geraldine O'Connor, who took PHS to court for denying them candidacies to the board.
A judge issued a temporary restraining order on the elections, unless the names of DeCelles and O'Connor are included on election ballots. With the settlement, the election can now proceed. Ballots will be sent out to the organization's 6,000 members this week, and the winners of six board seats will be announced at the annual meeting on December 21. Many board members are hoping that an ousting of several incumbent board members may tip the board majority in another direction.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.