Devastating
– the word used most often to describe the impact of a proposed
layoff of 36 City of Hollister employees. Devastating applies to
not only the lives of the employees possibly laid off, but also the
impact on services offered by the city and its departments.
Devastating – the word used most often to describe the impact of a proposed layoff of 36 City of Hollister employees. Devastating applies to not only the lives of the employees possibly laid off, but also the impact on services offered by the city and its departments.
The list identifies the spectrum of employees – department heads down to clerical support service personnel. The layoffs would take effect July 1.
Thirty employees and residents spoke at a Hollister City Council study session Monday night asking council members to put off a decision on layoffs to consider alternatives. The decision was delayed 16 days until a Jan. 28 meeting.
Among the top officials on the list are Fire Chief Bill Garringer, Finance Director Barbara Mulholland and Recreation Services Manager Robert Ornelas.
Garringer and Mulholland expressed shock at seeing their names.
“It was a surprise to me. The fire chief was never discussed,” Garringer said after the meeting. “They talked about fire fighters originally and maybe my fire marshall/captain.”
Christine Black, the one clerical administrator at the fire department, is also on the proposed list of layoffs. Without Black or Garringer, the fire department has no administrators.
“At other fire departments, there’s an assistant fire chief, then deputy chiefs then battalion chiefs. I have none of those,” Garringer said. “They’re losing me and they’re losing Christine – it’s a fire house with a fire engine in it with no one else doing any of the administrative work.”
While Garringer did not speak during public comment, several people expressed their dismay that such cuts would be considered for the fire or police departments.
During public comment, Black suggested putting off the decision, and double checking budget numbers and looking into a four-day work week.
“Please take time. We have time,” she said.
Garringer said he doubted the extent to which employees and their union were allowed to voice input in formulating a layoff list.
“I disagree that there’s been adequate input from the department heads themselves,” he said. “We need to explore the different options. He’s (City Manager Dale Shaddox) projecting a worst-case scenario (when it’s not as bad as it looks).”
Mulholland was in the same boat Garringer was in when she saw her name – laying off department heads was not originally discussed, she said.
Because Mulholland does not have children and is not the sole breadwinner in her family, she said she’s not the worst off in the situation. Although she is close to retirement age and has other work experience, Mulholland said she cannot cross out the possibility of having to move out of the area.
“Part of what you’re losing is part of the corporate memory,” Mulholland said about the 36 layoffs. “At some point, things are going to turn around and you’re going to have to restaff – some of these people are not going to be around.”
Mulholland said she is all for the extra 16 days to further analyze the impact and numbers of 36 layoffs. Even if the delay doesn’t change anything, it might help increase the acceptance level.
“In a situation like this, there can always be more input,” she said. “The more input you have, the better input you have.”
