The general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which manages water deliveries to agencies across the region, was placed on administrative leave Thursday amid allegations of harassment and creating a hostile work environment.
Adel Hagekhalil has denied any wrongdoing, insisting everyone in the office is treated fairly and respectfully. He was out of the country and not in attendance at Thursday's meeting of the MWD Board of Directors, which discussed the matter in closed session before announcing the decision to place Hagekhalil on paid leave.
The allegations were made by the MWD's chief financial officer, Katano Kasaine. She made the complaint confidentially, but it was obtained and published by Politico.
Kasaine alleged that Hagekhalil had created a "toxic" work environment at MWD. She said she is "constantly scrutinized, sidelined and demeaned for standing up against issues that are not in Metropolitan's best interest."
"This board is determined to act with unity and swiftness in order to protect everybody," MWD board chair Adán Ortega said.
Deven Upadhyay, MWD's assistant general manager and chief operating officer, was named interim general manager.
"My hope is that under Deven's leadership in the coming months that we will find some common purpose, that we will realize the urgency of the policies and the tasks that confront us," Ortega said. "The public should never, ever have to worry on whether half the water that our region consumes will be there."
Hagekhalil told the Los Angeles Times the allegations amount to "disagreements on management decisions."
"I have always upheld the highest standards of integrity and promote that for our entire staff at Metropolitan," he said. "I truly treat everybody with respect, always, and nobody in my office has been mistreated. Any claim to the contrary is false."
The MWD is the nation's largest water wholesaler, controlling deliveries to cities and agencies across Southern California, effectively overseeing water supplies for more than 19 million people.
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