Leaders of one of Orange County’s major water districts are facing questions after they opted not to rebuke one of their board members who was found to have potentially violated their ethics and harassment policies. 

One official even left the meeting chambers before a discussion about the embattled official began.

The board member in question for the Moulton Niguel Water District is Bill Moorhead, who’s sat on the board since 2018 and received complaints from several district staff members about his conduct.  

While an investigation into Moorhead’s conduct was completed, its results haven’t been released publicly and the agency’s lawyers repeatedly told board members not to discuss the findings during a public discussion about his actions on Nov. 13.  

The only details released came in a brief staff report and resolution, which encouraged Moorhead to abide by the district’s ethics and harassment rules. 

“The Moulton Niguel Water District Board of Directors became aware of concerns raised by staff regarding Director William “Bill” Moorhead’s conduct, and such concerns were verified,” reads the agency’s resolution, before ordering that his future “comments and actions support a safe and positive work environment at all times.” 

Several of the agency’s top staff spoke out at the meeting, encouraging board members to pass the resolution, including Kelsey DeCasas, the agency’s controller. 

“Holding board members accountable for misconduct is essential,” DeCasas said. “If misconduct goes unchecked, it erodes the morale and undermines the very values we claim to uphold.” 

Moorhead spoke out in his defense at the meeting, saying he could “acknowledge” his comments may have been “misunderstood,” but that he felt a resolution condemning him was an overreach. 

“I understand the complaints against me and I wish I could offer you the backstory on every one of them,” Moorhead said. “This is something I will never forget … I will vote no as this resolution is unnecessary.” 

Despite the concerns raised by staff, the board didn’t admonish Moorhead after three out of seven board members voted to pass a resolution against their colleague. 

Board Members Brian Probolsky, Diane Rifkin and Richard Fiore voted in favor, with Fiore saying it was “in the best interest of the district and in the best interest of our employees to approve the resolution.” 

Board Member Donald Froelich abstained, while Moorhead and Sherry Wanninger voted against it. 

Wanninger said she could not find “sufficient evidence” in the investigation against Moorhead to condemn him, noting that just its existence “severely taints” him. 

“We talk about culture but do we really want a culture where we can’t say hardly anything to anyone?” Wanninger said. “I hope the board duly considers the ramifications.”  

Board President Duane Cave did not participate in the vote – he walked out of the room before any discussion opened, leaving the board without a majority to pass the resolution. 

The discussion also came just days before Cave resigned his seat and pleaded guilty to lying about where he lived when he ran for office. 

None of the board members replied to requests for comment from Voice of OC, and Laura Kalty, a lawyer from Liebert Cassidy and Whitmore, declined to comment on behalf of the district. 

Around 60 district employees walked out of the room after the vote, according to Charles Barfield, head of the Orange County Employees Association, who criticized board members for failing to chastise Moorhead. 

“South Orange County politicians decided to protect their own while turning their backs on their employees (victims). I thought we had evolved beyond this,” Barfield wrote in a statement on Nov. 19. “It’s clear we have a lot of work to do to make sure our workers are safe.”

Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org.