One month into his term as Hollister mayor, Brian Conroy is
getting a rare opportunity to influence the city’s direction.
One month into his term as Hollister mayor, Brian Conroy is getting a rare opportunity to influence the city’s direction while making appointments of Councilmembers to committee and department liaison positions.
At tonight’s Council meeting, members will consider ratifying Conroy’s appointments, which include memberships on the Local Agency Formation Commission, a water treatment committee and a groundwater management committee. Two of the 15 committees – the Housing Authority and Industrial Development Authority – are mandatory for all elected Councilmembers.
Each commission meets regularly – as often as once or twice a month – to discuss issues and report back to the Council.
According to Councilman Tony LoBue, their decisions should “reflect the opinion of the Council.”
“I tried to just slot everybody where I felt strengths were,” Conroy said.
Councilman Robert Scattini received the most appointments, including six to committees and four as a liaison. Scattini will serve as liaison to the police and fire departments, along with the Hollister Independence Rally Committee and the Airport Commission.
Scattini realizes the workload, but was willing to “accept the challenge.”
“I’m on quite a few (committees),” Scattini said. “I guess they want to kill me off.”
Scattini has devoted more than four decades to local law enforcement, including his current position as county marshal that he’s held since 1988. He has also served as a member of the Airport Commission for the past 19 years.
A resignation from that commission coincided with his election to the Council. On a separate agenda item tonight the Council will ratify Scattini’s replacement on the Airport Commission.
“That’s why (experience with local agencies) they assigned me those commissions,” Scattini said. “I’m a doer. I just don’t sit back and let things happen.”
Conroy chose to accept a significant chunk of committee responsibility and appointed himself to six agencies, including crucial positions on LAFCO and the Local Solid Waste Taskforce.
Conroy said he realized – as he chose those positions for himself – that the workload and responsibility would be significant.
Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia also received six appointments, while Councilman Tony Bruscia received five.
LoBue received the least number of appointments with two, including to the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments and the Pajaro Watershed Flood Prevention Authority.
LoBue recently finished his one-year term as mayor, as which he also made a round of appointments.
“Brian (Conroy) has taken it upon himself to appoint himself to LAFCO,” LoBue said. “I hope that committee is done properly.”
LoBue expressed satisfaction with his two appointments.
“I’m fine with them,” he said. “I’ll do my job as assigned.”
Conroy will be joined on LAFCO by county Supervisor Richard Scagliotti, Supervisor Bob Cruz and San Juan Bautista Councilwoman Priscilla Hill. Valdivia and Supervisor Pat Loe will serve as alternates.
