Alameda County employees urge board to halt reassignment of veteran supervisor

Several Social Services Agency employees addressed the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 23 to protest a proposed reassignment of supervising eligibility technician Marika (Morica) Epperson.

Leticia Tate said her unit has a 98 percent completion rate and pleaded with the board not to remove the supervisor who 'affords us the ability to work in a non-stressful manner.' Maria Divina Prestoza and Danilo Souda described the unit's teamwork and argued the proposed transfer would hamper customer service. Marika Epperson told the board she has held her supervising position for 18 years, provided unit statistics showing consistent high performance, and said she believes the proposed move violates civil-service rules and seniority privileges; she requested the intake assignment be filled by someone with lesser seniority.

Speakers asked the board to consider the unit’s records when reviewing the transfer; several quoted internal performance figures and referenced civil-service code sections. The board president responded that personnel matters are limited in public comment and that the board could not fully discuss a confidential personnel action during the meeting.

No formal personnel decision was announced at the meeting; the comments were accepted as public input.