Employees Give Vacation Time to Ill Fellow Worker

ANAHEIM —  A terminally ill city worker received city approval Tuesday to cash in more than 170 hours of vacation time donated to him by fellow employees.

The largest contributor, a city painter who did not wish to be identified, gave 100 hours or slightly more than $2,000 to Richard M. Castillo, 38, who is reportedly suffering from a lung disease and cancer and who had used all his allotted leave time due to his illnesses.

City officials said Castillo, an auto mechanic in the city’s maintenance department for the past 15 years, has been on leave from his position for four months.

The City Council approved the idea unanimously.

Gina Hainline, an Anaheim Municipal Employees Assn. representative, said many of the workers had been contributing hours to the cause in multiples of five or 10 until the longtime city painter presented his pledge form.

“I saw how much it was,” Hainline said, “and I asked if he was sure he wanted to give that much (time). He said he had 300 hours on the books and told me that (Castillo) could use it more than he could.”

Contacted at his home, the painter said: “I’d rather not have the notoriety.”

David Hill, assistant director of the city’s labor relations department, said Castillo’s leave time had run out and his eligibility for long-term disability benefits has not yet come before the department.

Hill said city employees will have until April 11 to make additional pledges of vacation time.