Tony Bruscia became the new mayor of Hollister on Monday night
at one of the most heated and packed City Council meetings in
recent times.
”
Nothing like jumping head first into the fire,
”
Bruscia said after the meeting, wearing a suit and tie for the
ceremonial occasion.
Tony Bruscia became the new mayor of Hollister on Monday night at one of the most heated and packed City Council meetings in recent times.
“Nothing like jumping head first into the fire,” Bruscia said after the meeting, wearing a suit and tie for the ceremonial occasion.
During Monday’s meeting, two factions totaling about 45 residents showed up to either support or denounce the requested removal of Recreation Division head Robert Ornelas for alleged sexual misconduct; a resident scolded the city’s non-action on Clearview Drive, a street said to be increasingly dangerous; and the Council approved several big ticket items.
Meanwhile, Bruscia was unanimously elected by his fellow board members to succeed Councilman Brian Conroy as mayor. And following the meeting, Bruscia rescinded an announcement from early November. He will not run for the Board of Supervisors in November, he said. Rather, he plans to make a run at a second term on the Council.
Bruscia had been the vice mayor during the past year and filled in when Conroy was absent from meetings. The Council votes for a new mayor each year – they traditionally elect the previous vice mayor.
Bruscia started off by giving the floor to Conroy, who spoke to the full Council Chambers about his year as the board chair and the city’s lead spokesperson. Conroy started by thanking the other four Council members. He then acknowledged the city is facing many tough issues – but that progress had been made in several areas as well.
“One of my goals was that we work as a team and communicate with other agencies,” said Conroy.
After the meeting, he said he was referring to the city’s improved relationship with San Benito County government, the San Benito County Water District and the county Farm Bureau.
Perhaps the night’s biggest surprise, Councilman Tony LoBue requested the opportunity to speak about Conroy. Their relationship has been rocky since they both joined the Council in 2000, which LoBue acknowledged Monday.
“Council member Conroy and I had our tough times in the beginning,” LoBue said. “But we have worked our way through those and I appreciate all the hard work and everything he has done for the city.”
But LoBue’s serious tone turned humorous. Out of his shirt pocket, he pulled a gavel the size of a push pin.
“And for that, I would like to give him something that will hopefully remind him of the weight and power that the mayor’s position carries in this great city,” said LoBue, who was mayor for a year starting in December 2001.
Conroy moved in and responded: “I’d just like to state that – that’s completely true.”
After Council members Robert Scattini and Pauline Valdivia also complimented Conroy’s year as mayor, Bruscia spoke. He talked about challenges and goals for the city during the next year.
First, he addressed the budget problems, specifically the city’s plans to dismiss about 40 employees from the payroll by July.
“It’s not something that any of us enjoy having to deal with,” Bruscia said. “But we also have the realities of an estimated budget shortfall of two and a half million dollars.”
Among the positive notes he mentioned, Bruscia expressed confidence in new leaders, such as City Manager Dale Shaddox, who arrived in May, and Police Chief Jeff Miller, who started in early October. He talked about the renovated Veterans Memorial Building and other upcoming projects, such as a downtown beautification, street repairs and construction of Fire Station No. 2.
“I really do believe a lot of really good things are happening,” Bruscia said.
Regarding the District 2 supervisors race, he does not want to run because of a devotion to involvement with the League of California Cities, he said. He is president of the league’s Monterey Bay region.
“I’d hate to leave it,” he said.
In other business, the Council:
– Approved the purchase of a $354,000 fire engine. The funding will come from the Redevelopment Agency, which recently issued $35 million in bonds.
The engine will be used at Fire Station No. 2 – it is scheduled for completion sometime in early 2005. The city purchased an identical fire engine about nine months ago to replace one being used at the downtown station. That vehicle arrived Sunday, according to Fire Chief Bill Garringer. The new engine should arrive next September, Garringer said.
The city had commissioned its hired grant writer to apply for federal funding to pay for the engine, but the city received a notice recently denying the application.
“I think I’ll write that transmittal letter myself next time,” City Manager Dale Shaddox said with a chuckle.
– Approved a joint agreement with the San Benito High School District for construction and maintenance of sports fields and courts – they will coincide with the campus expansion currently under construction. Talks for the agreement have been under way for nine months.
The facilities will include two soccer fields, lighted tennis courts, lighted softball fields, bathrooms and parking areas. The agreement is for 10 years with the potential for two 10-year extensions. The $1 million allocated for work during the life of the agreement will come from the dwindling Parks Fund, which has about $500,000 remaining, according to Management Services Director Clay Lee.
– Bruscia made appointments to one Council subcommittee, which will work with officials on issues relating to the planned reduction in city staff. He appointed himself and Conroy. Bruscia is scheduled to make the remaining appointments to more than a dozen subcommittees at the next regular Council meeting Dec. 15.
– Approved a $60,000 contract with a company to remove asbestos from the airport’s Building 25, which burned down a year ago. Synergy Environmental, Inc. will conduct the removal – required by federal law before demolishing buildings with asbestos. After the asbestos is gone, which should take about two weeks, the city will then remove the remaining materials at the site.
– Approved a resolution to maintain certain street rights of way, a request of Caltrans – the state’s transportation authority. The rights of way are those within the San Benito Street Beautification Project Area, which includes San Benito Street from South to Hawkins streets and other side streets nearby.
Also included in the resolution, the Council agreed to investigate the potential effects of decorative pavers on the city’s physically challenged. The brownish-red pavers are part of the upcoming Beautification Project. The city has never received a complaint about other areas where pavers have been installed.
