Plumas County Mental Health Director Resigns

Plumas County Mental Health Director Peter Livingston has submitted his resignation, citing intense on-the-job pressure that he says has begun to affect him personally.

“It was with equal parts of regret and relief that I offered the Board of Supervisors my letter of resignation as Director of Mental Health,” Livingston said of his decision, which was later accepted by the Board of Supervisors. “Unabating levels of intense stress and little hope that crucial factors would significantly change eroded my hopes of playing a productive and positive role in the ongoing development of Plumas County Mental Health."

Livingston’s 15-month stint as Mental Health Director has been fraught with turmoil. He frequently butted heads with law enforcement leaders—and District Attorney David Hollister in particular—after they accused his department of failing to adequately meet the needs of people in the criminal justice system. Some of their criticisms were backed last year by both the Plumas County Grand Jury and an independent auditing firm, and an evaluation of his performance was scheduled to take place the day he resigned.

Livingston said the “strong levels of negativity” around him eventually “overshadowed the creation of a more positive, cooperative, and healthy working environment.” He has agreed to stay on as interim director for three months to assist in the transition. After that, he plans to take time off.

Read more about Livingston’s resignation here.