The city has placed two top administrators on leave and is looking to replace the employees.
City Engineer Rudi Golnik and Administrative Services Director Robert Galvan have been put on administrative leave, Mayor Ignacio Velazquez confirmed.
“We’ve chosen to move in a new direction,” Velazquez said about the staff changes.
Officials were quiet about the moves, while it is unclear why the two long-time city officials were put on administrative leave.
The city, meanwhile, is looking at potential replacements.
“We’re bringing in people,” Velazquez said.
Interim City Manager Bill Avera called the moves a “personnel thing.”
“I’m basically saying I don’t know what to say,” Avera said Friday.
Golnik replaced former public works official Steve Wittry in 2010 after Wittry left the city engineering position in 2009 to take over at county public works.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Golnik had worked for the city of Hollister since July 2010. Galvan joined the city as its finance chief in early 2005.
They are the latest top officials to depart since Velazquez took office as mayor – after a campaign stressing the need for reform – in December 2012. The city in recent months also parted ways with City Manager Clint Quilter and City Attorney Stephanie Atigh.
