Dennis Osmer abruptly resigned his chairmanship from the board of the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency on Thursday, citing problems with board member John G. Eiskamp and describing the board atmosphere as a circus.

Osmer sent an e-mail at 10:27 a.m. Thursday to fellow board members announcing the resignation. Very short, the e-mail read, "Please accept my resignation as Chair forthwith. I find myself unable to represent the Board adequately."

"I have some real disagreement about how things are going right now," Osmer said in a phone interview later in the day. "I think I would better serve my constituents as a member of the board, not as a chair. I think the circus could use a new ringmaster, also."

That new ringmaster will be Rosemarie Imazio, the current vice chair.

Thursday, Imazio said she is ready for the challenge.

"I've been on the board long enough. Lord knows there is a long history. We are moving forward in spite of our detractors," she said. "We will work on going forward, finding new funding — try to stay positive."

Osmer said it was not a coincidence that his resignation followed a stormy board meeting Wednesday night in which Eiskamp forced his way into a closed session meeting that he had been asked not to attend. Osmer said he eventually left. Eiskamp said the board "discussed" his presence for about two hours before moving on to the next item on the agenda.

"I did attend that session and it may have had something to do with his resignation," Eiskamp said. “Just because you have a difference of opinion in regards to agency policy, is that a reason to exclude somebody?"

The first two items on closed session agenda were Eiskamp's attendance and the agency's current battle in court with Pajaro Sunny Mesa Community Services District. Eiskamp has publicly stated he hopes Pajaro Sunny Mesa wins its suit, which would effectively bankrupt the PVWMA. Eiskamp had even offered to testify against the PVWMA. For this reason, the PVWMA board fears that its strategy in court could be compromised if Eiskamp attends the meetings.

"I support Pajaro Sunny Mesa in their litigation," Eiskamp said in a phone interview Thursday. "Some of the board members are uncomfortable with me being there while they're discussing this litigation."

Osmer confirmed this and said the PVMWA, its board and the people it represents deserve to have the same access to confidential counsel that Pajaro Sunny Mesa does, "And I don't believe that to be a possibility now."

But Kegebein said the board's issues with Eiskamp go far beyond just the closed session fracas.

"John Eiskamp is impossible to work with," Kegebein said. "It's just highly unprofessional. No matter who is talking, no matter what they are saying, he interrupts. ... He's just uncivil."

Kegebein said that Osmer took it especially hard.

"I think he's just reached the end of his rope and I can't say as how I blame him," Kegebein said. "It's all kind of amusing to me. I don't personalize it, I guess, but Dennis takes public service very seriously."

Osmer said it was more than just Eiskamp.

"John is a difficult personality, but there are other elements in the group dynamic that are in play," Osmer said. "There's a lot to be said of the board's validation of the behavior."

Imazio said she hopes the mood on the board will become more civil.

"I just think my focus is going to be to establish protocol and maintain it while conducting the meetings," she said. "Making sure people don't interrupt and overrun. I think I just have to run a tight ship in that respect and see what happens."

PVWMA general manager Mary Bannister did not return calls seeking comment. The next PVWMA board meeting is scheduled Dec. 16.

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