3-2 vote in favor of retaining current COG representation
Supervisors on Tuesday rejected an idea to study the possibility
of having all five county board members on the committee making
decisions about local transportation matters.
They denied the proposal from Supervisor Margie Barrios in a 3-2
vote. Barrios and Supervisor Reb Monaco voted in favor of the
resolution, while Supervisors Anthony Botelho, Jaime De La Cruz and
Pat Loe voted against it.
3-2 vote in favor of retaining current COG representation
Supervisors on Tuesday rejected an idea to study the possibility of having all five county board members on the committee making decisions about local transportation matters.
They denied the proposal from Supervisor Margie Barrios in a 3-2 vote. Barrios and Supervisor Reb Monaco voted in favor of the resolution, while Supervisors Anthony Botelho, Jaime De La Cruz and Pat Loe voted against it.
Barrios said she proposed the review because she believes transportation matters are “very, very important” and roads are “our greatest assets.”
She also noted how there are concerns about full representation throughout the county, with just two supervisorial districts represented on the five-member COG board. She pointed out how the two supervisors on COG have no obligation to follow the county board’s wishes.
“I find that discouraging because I really feel these are very, very important issues,” she said.
As it traditionally stands, the county appoints two members to the Council of San Benito County Council of Governments Board of Directors. Additionally, Hollister appoints two members, and San Juan Bautista appoints one.
Botelho and De La Cruz are the current representatives for San Benito County, along with Hollister Councilmen Doug Emerson and Victor Gomez, and San Juan Councilman Rick Edge.
Barrios said the proposal was not meant to “exclude” Hollister or San Juan. She pointed out how either of those boards could take the same action because the guidelines are set up by COG.
“We can do that if we so choose,” she said.
COG makes an array of decisions on transportation issues throughout the county, and Barrios said there has been “a lot of disagreement and discontent” regarding the direction of local roads. Aside from planning matters over Hwy. 152 and Hwy. 101, a proposed expansion to Hwy. 156 is perhaps the most heated transportation issue these days.
Botelho, the board chairman and a COG member who represents the San Juan Bautista area, is a vocal opponent of the project. He noted how major decisions have been ratified by the county and cities and he said he does not have concerns about a supervisor on COG going against the county board’s wishes on such major considerations.
“It hasn’t been an issue from my experience on the board,” Botelho said.
By expanding the COG board, he said it would become “very, very cumbersome to get anything done.” He also said it’s important to have a say from all COG directors on major matters.
“I think the makeup provides the proper level of balance as it is right now,” he said.
Loe said changing the COG board’s structure would involve “a lot of work” and “a lot of staff time” to merely explore the proposal.
“If there is a specific issue we need to address, then we need to address the issue,” she said. “To change the total makeup of COG, I think it’s overkill at this point.”
But Barrios also pointed out how other rural counties have used varying structures to their transportation agencies’ boards. She noted how Alpine County, which has 1,200 residents, places all five supervisors on its transportation board.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get the support I had hoped to,” Barrios said.
COG Executive Director Lisa Rheinheimer, meanwhile, didn’t have much to say about the consideration.
“It’s a policy decision and they were the policy makers,” she said.
