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The East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors is set at Tuesday’s regular meeting to consider appointing retired general manager Robert Doyle to interim GM in the wake of Sabrina Landreth’s resignation from the role.
Doyle closed his nearly five decades-long career at EBRPD at the end of 2020, having spent 10 years as the park district’s general manager just prior to Landreth taking the helm.
If appointed, Doyle’s position as interim general manager would last from Jan. 14 to Feb. 6, according to a staff report prepared by EBRPD’s assistant general manager of human resources Jessica Romeo and acting general manager Max Korten.
Staff also expect to make a future recommendation to appoint Doyle as interim GM effective Feb. 7, with the nationwide search for a more permanent leader underway.
“The Park District requires continued executive leadership to ensure continuity of operations, governance and implementation of Board-adopted policies”, the staff report states regarding the interim GM role. “Mr. Doyle possesses the experience and qualifications necessary to serve in this capacity during the transition period.”
Meanwhile, questions remain regarding the details of Landreth’s parting from EBRPD two days after her performance evaluation.
The position of general manager at EBRPD opened abruptly when Landreth submitted a letter of resignation to the board Nov. 6 and declared Feb. 6 as her last day of employment with the district.
Released to the Pleasanton Weekly via formal public records request, Landreth’s resignation letter explains her plan to take a leave of absence until her formal separation with the district in February.
“I have loved my job at the District and will dearly miss its amazing people,” Landreth wrote. “I am very proud of my time here – it has been a privilege to be able to serve my community.”
At the time of Landreth’s resignation letter, the GM was otherwise covered under an at-will employment agreement expiring in March of 2029, according to her contract obtained via the same public records request.
“We know this news may come as a surprise, but please be assured that our work and mission remain unchanged,” EBRPD deputy general manager Allyson Cook wrote to the park district team one day after Landreth’s resignation letter. “The dedication and professionalism you bring each day continue to move the Park District forward and serve our community with excellence.”
As previously reported by the Pleasanton Weekly, Landreth distributed a statement days later alleging that the board demanded action of her that would have violated the law and caused harm to her professional and personal reputation.
In effect, she was “constructively terminated,” according to the statement.
At the time of the statement Nov. 9 , she considered pursuing legal action related to her parting from the district and the board’s conduct, but as of press time her legal team did not provide a status update on potential legal action.
The upcoming board meeting is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 13). The full agenda is available via ebrpd.org.
