Hollister
– San Benito County will likely have someone new at the head of
its transportation agency by the end of the week.
Hollister – San Benito County will likely have someone new at the head of its transportation agency by the end of the week.
The Council of Governments’ board of directors will consider appointing transportation planner Lisa Rheinheimer as COG’s executive director at its meeting on Thursday. Rheinheimer is currently a senior transportation planner at the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, but she was a COG staff member from 1999 to 2004.
“We’re all excited about a new start,” said Mary Dinkuhn, COG’s transportation planning manager. Dinkuhn said she has worked closely with Rheinheimer in the past, and that they both worked their way up after starting out as COG interns.
Hollister City Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia, who sits on COG’s board of directors, was a member of the interview committee that recommended Rheinheimer for the position. Valdivia said Rheinheimer is already very knowledgeable about the county’s transportation issues, and that she was a “very, very good employee” during her time at COG.
“All of us feel real comfortable with her coming in,” Valdivia said. “I’m really glad she accepted the job.”
Local attorney Joseph Thompson, who has been a vocal critic of COG, said on Tuesday that the appointment of a new executive director won’t make much difference.
“I thank the public servants for the hard work, but we’re laboring under a sick set of rules,” he said. Thompson, who is a Tres Pinos resident and Gilroy-based attorney, objects to what he sees as the waste of millions of dollars on mass transit.
The Free Lance was unable to reach Rheinheimer by press time Tuesday. According to the TAMC’s Web site, Rheinheimer’s projects in Monterey include the Monterey Bay Scenic Sanctuary Trail, the Salinas Road interchange and state and federal funding programs.
Although the COG board – made up of representatives from the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, the Hollister City Council and the San Juan Bautista City Council – sets the agency’s policy, the executive director is in charge of its day-to-day operation.
Bob Davies, currently COG’s interim executive director, was brought on after Tom Quigley ended his controversial tenure in August.
Davies, a retired California Highway Patrol captain, has told the Free Lance he didn’t want to become the transportation agency’s permanent executive director. He said the person leading COG should be better-versed in funding issues, while he’d rather enjoy his retirement.
COG’s directors will consider keeping Davies on as a consultant during the transition period.
The COG board will vote on Rheinheimer’s appointment in a closed session at the end of Thursday’s meeting. The meeting will begin at 6pm in the San Benito County Board of Supervisors’ chambers.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or ah*@fr***********.com.
