FRESNO, Calif. — Dr. Stan Louie, chairman of the supervisory committee at $108 million United Local Credit Union, confirmed that members voted 219 to 29 in favor of removing suspended board member Tom Rotella during a special meeting on Tuesday, April 22.

According to the credit union's official statement, penned by Louie, “the suspension had come as a result of action taken by the supervisory committee related to the board member's actions.”

Rotella said his relationship with CEO Jill Bechard, as well as leaders on the board and supervisory committee, soured after he simultaneously opposed a proposal to close a branch and questioned a DFI audit that found exception with loan terms granted to the board chair.

The rift eventually culminated in a heated exchange between Rotella and Bechard, which resulted in his suspension, Rotella said. In his statement, Louie said the board member's offending actions were of “a human resource nature.”

The ousted volunteer, a 52-year-old machinist union representative, said he's firing off official complaints today to the California Department of Financial Institutions and Louie, alleging the voting and required disclosures were improperly handled per DFI regulations.

Rotella said neither he nor his official ballot observer, retired United Local CEO Chuck Topain, have received election results.