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San Benito County Administrative Officer Ray Espinosa was placed on medical leave the week of May 20, according to a county news release. County Counsel David Prentice said he could not provide the date Espinosa’s leave began.
The news comes a month after the San Benito County Board of Supervisors held a closed session meeting in which they discussed the “public employee appointment” for the position. Espinosa attended the supervisors’ May 21 regular meeting. The position was the only item on the May 23 agenda but Espinosa was not in the chambers when the meeting was called to order.
According to the county’s June 18 news release, Espinosa “considered retirement due to this health issue, but his situation has evolved.” He has been the CAO since November 2013.
Espinosa’s employee evaluation Espinosa was one of three items in the closed session of the June 4 meeting, according to the agenda.
“In each of those, the board gave direction to staff,” Prentice said when the board returned.
The board held another performance evaluation for Espinosa on June 11 along with an item related to anticipated litigation. Prentice said there was no reportable action in regards to Espinosa’s evaluation and told BenitoLink that the litigation item was not related to Espinosa.
San Benito County Public Information Officer Rosemerry Dere told BenitoLink that Espinosa did not give the county a timeline of when he may return but that it will depend on the information he receives from medical professionals.
“It’s still somewhat ever-changing,” Dere said.
She said when the Board of Supervisors was notified of Espinosa’s leave, they discussed appointing an interim CAO while they looked for permanent candidates.
In Espinosa’s absence, Deputy CAO Henie Ring is overseeing the county’s operations.
According to the news release, upon his return, Espinosa “offered to work with the Board of Supervisors on a previously discussed succession plan to ensure continuity and effective management moving forward.”
Dere said previously the county has discussed a succession plan but wasn’t sure how far the discussion has gone.
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