| | Published March 14th, 2012
| MOFD Board of Directors Seeks Public Input Regarding Vacant Seats
| | By Lucy Amaral | | |
With a meeting room full of concerned citizens, the Moraga Orinda Fire District (MOFD) Board of Directors used the opportunity to ask the public for its advice on how best to replace former Board members Dick Olsen and Brook Mancinelli.
After receiving the staff report on this issue during the March 7 meeting, Board member John Wyro recommended, and the other members agreed, that the meeting should be used for discussion and any decision be made at the March 21 Board meeting. "Tonight, let's listen to the community, get feedback, then return on the 21st to discuss any action," he said.
Mancinelli and Olsen announced their resignation during the February 15th Board meeting, both stating their end date would be February 29. The March 7 Board meeting was the first since the resignations took effect. According to MOFD Board president, Fred Weil, the process of replacing Mancinelli and Olsen will probably take time. "It should be a thoughtful and considered decision," Weil said.
Mancinelli's term was due to end this November, while Olsen had more than two years left of his four-year tenure. Those variances and how to most effectively and economically fill the seats garnered much discussion. First and foremost was the cost consideration for a special election. Bradley said that the average cost per District would run approximately $35,000 for a mail-in election if held outside a traditional voting calendar. If the board matched the special election dates with the upcoming November general election, each District's election would cost approximately $5,000.
The combinations of options from Staff and the Board came at a dizzying pace. Both seats could be filled with appointments by the sitting MOFD Board of Directors. Both seats could be filled by a special election held as early as July. One person could be elected, and one person appointed. If a special election is the option, the date of the election could be pushed back to coincide with the general election in November. And, if the Board chose to do absolutely nothing, the matter would then be transferred to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, where this process would begin all over again. No one in the room felt that giving up the authority to appoint or elect their own representative was a workable solution.
The Board opened the floor for comments and received both compliments and harsh criticism on this subject and their work in general; however, most comments were slanted toward finding an appropriate solution to the issue. Art Haig of Orinda said that he knew of two individuals who were interested in representing District 5, vacated by Mancinelli, then offered the suggestion of an appointment for Mancinelli's seat, combined with a special election in November for Olsen's seat. "It makes no sense to hold an election when the term ends in three months," he said, referring to Mancinelli's tenure. Most of the comments from the audience echoed Haig's support for more than three members on board and several noted the fact that Orinda was currently underrepresented.
According to MOFD's Staff report, there are specific deadlines that must be met and Bradley said that the Board will be able to meet those deadlines even if they push back their decision until March 21.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA