Mayor Robert Scattini announced this week he believes it’s time
to disband the city’s Airport Advisory Commission, saying that
since the hiring of a full-time airport manager the commission has
become an unnecessary layer of government bureaucracy.
Hollister – Mayor Robert Scattini announced this week he believes it’s time to disband the city’s Airport Advisory Commission, saying that since the hiring of a full-time airport manager the commission has become an unnecessary layer of government bureaucracy.
Scattini broached the matter during Monday’s City Council meeting, saying he feels that “the airport commission has done its duty.” While Scattini’s colleagues on the council said they weren’t quite ready to support disbanding the commission, they did have their own concerns about it.
The unpaid, five-person commission was formed more than 20 years ago to advise the City Council on matters pertaining to the Hollister Municipal Airport, which was run by a part-time manager at that time, according to Scattini, who served on the commission for nearly two decades before being elected to the City Council in 2003. He said the commission is no longer needed because the airport now has a full-time manager – Bill Gere, who was hired in November, 2004 – who gives the City Council monthly reports. Scattini also said the current council is taking a more hands-on approach with the airport.
“I find at this time it is redundant,” Scattini said. “I feel the time is right now… to eliminate the airport commission.”
However, Gordon Machado, a member of the Airport Advisory Commission, said he wasn’t sure why Scattini would push to have the commission disbanded. But, he said, if council members think communication is not good between the commission and the council, it is because the council’s liaison to the commission – Scattini – has not attended the last several meetings. Scattini said that, with all the other meetings he has as a council member, he often can’t make the commission meetings.
Machado said the Airport Advisory Commission is still needed to advise and offer oversight on airport matters, such as the commission’s recent unanimous vote to formally oppose the site selected by Gavilan College as the home for a San Benito campus, situated adjacent to the airport off San Felipe Road. Members cited zoning problems in addition to possible conflicts with future airport enterprises. The commission sent the City Council a letter recommending that council members not support the college’s choice.
“I think you always need oversight,” Machado said. “I think the airport s a major part of the city, so oversight is needed.”
After Scattini’s comments Monday night, other council members said the Airport Advisory Commission had done an unsatisfactory job of communicating with the City Council as well, and also questioned the commission’s role. Though they raised concerns, Scattini’s fellow council members stopped short of saying that the commission should be disbanded.
“We really need to seriously look at it in terms of what the role should be or (what it) is,” Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia said.
Scattini said residents should not fear that their voices will not be heard on airport issues in the absence of the Airport Advisory Commission. Residents could bring concerns to the airport manager, the city manager or the council itself, he said.
“The people still have a say,” Scattini said.
The issue of the Airport Advisory Commission will be brought back for a future meeting.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com
