Mendocino County Air Pollution head Chris Brown resigned this month

Ukiah Daily Journal

Former Mendocino County Air Pollution Control Officer Chris Brown resigned earlier this month, Mendocino County Counsel Tom Parker announced Friday.

Parker revealed nothing about the circumstances surrounding Brown's resignation, only that "he chose to resign."

Brown was under investigation for about two months, since the Board of Supervisors -- sitting as the board of directors for the Mendocino County Air Quality Management District -- made a surprise announcement after a closed-door meeting during its Feb. 5 meeting that Brown was on administrative leave "pending the conclusion of an investigation."

Brown's closed-session performance review was one of only two items on the agenda for a special Board of Supervisors meeting that day.

Brown was the head of the Mendocino County Air Quality Management District, a separate entity from county government.

Mendocino County CEO Carmel Angelo and Brown haven't commented on the reason for the board's investigation of Brown, but his relationship with the county was not always smooth.

The AQMD and county General Services Agency in August reached a settlement that nearly eliminated a $123,000 fine Brown had levied against the GSA for alleged asbestos violations.

The district had notified the county of the alleged violations Dec. 30, 2011 and levied the six-figure fine the following month for allegedly failing to test for asbestos and to notify the district before renovating the reception

area and front counter of its former Mental Health building at 860 N. Bush St.

The settlement reduced the fine to $25,000 and suspended payment for two years, after which it was to be dismissed if there were no further violations. It also specified that the county would reimburse the AQMD for its legal expenses, to the tune of nearly $9,000, and would train two GSA employees on asbestos and other environmental issues.

Angelo, at the time the fine was levied in January 2012, acknowledged that Brown! had "no legal obligation" to talk to her before he issued the notice of violation to GSA, but wasn't happy that he hadn't told her there was a problem before threatening the fine, saying at the time, "I don't consider that in the spirit of cooperation."

Parker said Friday that the board will likely address how to fill Brown's position at a future meeting, but said no date had yet been set. In the meantime, Robert A. Scaglione Sr. is the acting air pollution control officer.

No further information about Brown's resignation was available Saturday.

Tiffany Revelle can be reached at udjtr@ukiahdj.com, on Twitter @TiffanyRevelle or at 468-3523.