Former Airport Manager Bill Gere is no longer with the city, and
his descent serves as a reminder that the democratic process in
place must be treated with the inviolability it demands for
successful deliberations.
Former manager’s downfall a reminder of importance of sticking with process
Former Airport Manager Bill Gere is no longer with the city, and his descent serves as a reminder that the democratic process in place must be treated with the inviolability it demands for successful deliberations.
Even though city officials have been quiet about details – first regarding his paid leave of absence and now his departure – his exodus comes as no surprise considering it follows Gere’s decision to remove the new CalFire air-attack base from an important planning document after its approval by airport advisory commissioners and before it reached the city council dais.
Gere admittedly took out the relocated CalFire base, along with facilities for gliders, before the recommended document reached the council. CalFire for many years has been negotiating with the city on a new air-attack base at the airport.
No justified defense for actions
After the discrepancy became public at a December city council meeting, Gere defended his actions and downplayed the significance of changing the plan.
“We know why they need a new facility, because the old ones sucks,” Gere said in December, apparently lax in his choice of words. “But we don’t know why they need to move.”
Regardless of his opinion, or even whether he’s right, it’s in no way his responsibility or right to alter a clear recommendation from the airport advisory commission.
City officials followed up appropriately, placing him on the leave of absence Jan. 17 before announcing Tuesday he’s no longer employed by Hollister.
Departure is the right move
It’s the right move and the only move not only because Gere’s decision severely alienated other city officials and many in the airport community, but also, and most important, because such a decision diminishes the point of broadly opined advisory recommendations and sets an unacceptable precedent for other managers.
The city, meanwhile, has begun its search for Gere’s replacement while leaving Code Enforcement Officer Mike Chambless as interim manager with some help from a contracted firm.
We urge officials as they move ahead to express clearly to any potential successors that a department head has certain, widely influential management duties, but that it is completely unacceptable to blatantly change the will of those citizens chosen to make such decisions.
