HOLLISTER
After some dialogue today, the county board unanimously approved spending $2,653 for Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz to attend the 2009 National Association of Counties Annual Conference and Exposition in July.
The event will take place in Nashville from July 24 through July 28. Supervisors voiced some concern, including about a notation on the agenda saying other expenses might arise on top of the slated amount. One supervisor at the meeting also noted how the board should establish a more concrete policy for such out-of-area travel.
“Although I don’t disapprove of it,” Supervisor Margie Barrios said, “on the initial part of the agenda it says that there could be additional expenses. But according to the itemized list, it already includes the mileage, the registration, the lodging, the meals and the airfare, so there should be really no other expenses. So I’m hoping that is what it is.”
She added that she is in support of the trip as long as the expense stays within the amount indicated in the agenda.
Board Chairman Anthony Botelho voiced concerns over spending county funds on the trip, but he also approved it.
“I’ve been to these conferences and I got mixed results and successes with them. I, last year, went to a conference in Washington D.C. and I got some stuff out of it but, as a whole, I didn’t think it was worth spending the $2,500 or whatever it cost. And we directed not to do it this year because of the financial difficulties that we’re in.”
He continued: “I just didn’t see anything in this agenda item and the information that brings back more than we are spending. I just think we have to scrutinize our travel costs very, very carefully especially very expensive travel going out of state. It’s a case-by-case basis and I certainly have not made my mind.”
After addressing his fellow supervisors, De La Cruz said that he will not be needing airfare for the trip and that he could have it paid.
Supervisor Reb Monaco said he would like to create a policy governing travel expenses rather than “a knee-jerk reaction to each individual case.”
Also at the meeting:
The board approved a resolution in support of naming the Highway 152/156 flyover after Joseph Anthony Zanger.
Zanger, who farmed more than 600 acres on Pacheco Pass and whose family started Casa de Fruta, died on Feb. 9.
Zanger studied safety and economic interests related to the area’s transportation system. In 1978, he served on the planning committee for the completion of Interstate 5 from Stockton to Santa Nella/Highway 152. He also helped establish a new route from Highway 152/156 to connect Highway 101 south of Gilroy.
The resolution was necessary because in order for Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, to introduce this to the state Legislature, he needed to have support from the San Benito County and the Santa Clara County boards.
Along with Denham, Sen. Elaine Alquist, D-Santa Clara, indicated that this is something she would like to pursue and has requested that the Santa Clara County and San Benito County boards share their opinions on the naming.
