MADERA – For better or worse, come Tuesday afternoon there will be a major shift in the leadership at the Madera County Government Center. Where you stand on this change depends on how you have interacted with Madera County Chief Administrative Officer over the last nine and a half years. The fifty-year-old Eric Fleming will be issuing his resignation in closed session during Tuesday’s Madera County Board of Supervisors meeting.
In a letter to the Board of Supervisors, Fleming says that “all things come to an end” and he believes that 2020 will be the year for him to wrap up loose ends and step down as CAO. Fleming hasn’t made this decision lightly and says he has been contemplating this for the last year.”I am not sure I have the energy or ability to effectively lead this organization any further.”
Fleming reflects on his tenure with the county and the success in creating a positive customer service culture within the county government with the implementation of the 311 system and the MadCoServices app which has received statewide and national awards. “There is no reason for us not to provide great service as you see in the private sector.”
Fleming was no stranger to controversy. In 2013 the Madera County Grand Jury accused Fleming of using intimidation and threats to obtain compliance with his directions and of having negatively affected the morale of some of the employees whom he deals with. A female employee also accused the CAO of sexual assault at an after-work office get together at Casey’s Iron Horse Bar & Grill. That employee took $10,000 workers compensation payout and left the county employ following a suicide attempt. It should be noted that Fleming completely denied all those accusations and no criminal complaints or charges were ever filed.
Last month, Fleming revealed that during the Fourth of July holiday this year he was arrested for driving under the influence in Fresno County. He has pled not guilty to those July 3rd charges and is currently going through the court processes. “I find myself in an unfortunate situation and I wanted you all to be aware. I apologize to all of you for bringing this negative attention to our management team and our organization.” Fleming said to the board.
In Fleming’s letter to the Board of Supervisors, he acknowledges that during his early career in Madera there were difficult times which resulted in his being painted as the villain while he was trying to fix the county’s massive budget deficit. He thanks the Board and management team for a major three-year restructuring effort that reduced the annual operating costs from the county by $12 million. “There were lay-offs and many unpleasant things happening during that time and I, unfortunately, gained a reputation as a bad guy. I know it is what I signed up for but being under a microscope with this type of lens has been difficult.”
That microscope lens has recently been pointed in the direction of Fleming’s personal life. DJ Becker, a reporter for the Madera Tribune has been poking around Fleming’s dating history and an audiotape that was illegally recorded without Fleming’s knowledge. In October of this year Fleming began dating a woman who he said told him, that like Fleming, she was divorced. On the second date, according to Fleming, he learned that the woman lived in a one-bedroom apartment with her husband and child. “I also found out at that point he [her husband] was a Madera county employee. Was I mad? You bet. That’s not cool.” He states.
Fleming continues, “This situation is so minor and is definitely not the reason for my resignation. Although, the cumulative effect of my personal life being scrutinized while I have been CAO, was one of several factors that led to my decision.”
BVN did a little research on the subject of the Tribune’s potential story and found that the woman’s brother, a veteran of the conflicts in Afghanistan, had to recently evict the woman after she moved into his home during one of his deployments in the military. He said he has also had to file small claims court actions in order to recover over $3000 in military emergency loans and personal property the woman will not return to him.
The woman’s brother told BVN, “She abusively took advantage of me and my home in ways that make me rather be back in Afghanistan than my own home. I am making this issue public for transparency as I just want them out of my life, but I will not let them take money that could be better spent on my son.“
We asked the lady’s brother if his sister was in any way credible with this story she is trying to tell the local media and his answer was a very loud “NO”.
As for DJ Becker’s motivations for delving into Fleming’s personal life, the CAO said, “I saw very quickly that she was negatively impacting the county operation through her involvement in Animal Services [Animal Shelter] and attempts to manipulate Board members, I quickly put an end to her involvement with the County and she hates me for it. She is a vindictive backstabber and her intentions are never for the good of this community.”
Fleming cites several projects that he would like to complete before he steps down sometime before the end of 2020. He also wants to provide a transitional period for whomever the Board appoints to replace him. The county chief says that he believes he can still bring value and successful results in the area of economic development and would like to continue working in this area on a part-time basis for the county.
At this time the exact date of Fleming’s resignation is only known to Fleming. This issue will be discussed in closed session during Tuesday afternoon’s 4:00 PM Madera County Board of Supervisors meeting where there is one item listed as “PUBLIC EMPLOYEE Discipline/Dismissal/Release/Complaint”.
Eric Fleming Letter of Resignation 12/06/2019
