Three citizens have come forward to apply for the vacant seat representing District 3 on the Moraga-Orinda Fire District’s (MOFD) Board of Directors. Jonathan Goodwin of Canyon, Richard Olsen of Moraga and Vince Maiorana of Orinda have tossed their hats into the ring, hoping to complete former Board member Pete Wilson’s unexpired term. Wilson retired effective February 18, due to health reasons. MOFD is divided into five districts. District 3 consists of parts of Orinda, Moraga and Canyon and the new Board member must reside in that district. The decision to appoint a board member was made during a special MOFD Board meeting held March 6. At that time, the Board decided that an appointment, rather than a costly general election, would be made and a citizens’ panel would be put in place to assist the Board to ensure a transparent process. At the March 17th Board meeting, Board member Fred Weil announced that the citizen’s advisory ad hoc committee was formed from a wide variety of applicants. He said that the advocacy groups F.A.I.R. and OrindaCAREs are represented on this panel, as well as the areas of Canyon, Moraga and Orinda; and that the group’s composition is geographically as far reaching as possible. Weil said the process would be as follows: Written questions ranging from their qualifications to their opinions of the District were sent from the Board to each of the candidates, with the answers due to the District by Monday March 22 at 9:00 a.m. Those answers will be provided to the Board as well as the advisory committee. The committee will meet that night at 6:00 p.m. in MOFD’s board room at 1280 Moraga Way, to provide comments on the candidates’ information. Fire Chief Randy Bradley will facilitate the discussion, and transcripts will be taken. Those notes will be sent to the MOFD Board members. Weil emphasized that the advisory committee was not put in place to make recommendations, but rather to offer insights and observations to assist the Board in making its decision. On Thursday, March 25th at 7:00 p.m. in the Sarge Littlehale Conference room at Orinda City Hall, the Board of Directors will meet with each of the candidates to conduct interviews and make a decision. It is the Board’s plan to appoint a board member that night and swear him in immediately. Both the March 22nd citizen’s advisory committee meeting and the March 25th Board meeting are open to the public.
Jonathan Goodwin of Canyon, Richard Olsen of Moraga and Vince Maiorana of Orinda have tossed their hats into the ring, hoping to complete former Board member Pete Wilson’s unexpired term. Wilson retired effective February 18, due to health reasons.
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA