During a special meeting of the Brentwood City Council Thursday, vice-Mayor Joel Bryant was reappointed in a unanimous vote to continue to serve on the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board of Directors. He will serve as Brentwoods representative.
This will be Bryant’s third term on the fire board where they have been unsuccessful in three attempts to get votes to approve a revenue enhancement for the cash strapped District which had been forced to close stations and lay off firefighters.
Bryant has continued to serve on the fire board since Dec. 2012 when both the cities of Brentwood and Oakley agreed to remove councilmembers off the fire board in favor of community citizens. However, at the time, it was explained both Bryant and Kevin Romick (Oakley) would continue to serve for institutional knowledge during the transition for a period of up to one year.
Romick served a period of 6-months, however, Bryant never stepped down from the seat causing Oakley to continue to appoint one councilmember.
Also occurring on Thursday, the term of Joe Young will be extended until a formal application and interview process can be completed under the new city council who will then appoint two citizen seats.
Councilman Steve Barr asked if Young could simply be extended through the seating of a new elected Board. City Manager Gus Vina explained they could do that, however, others in the community have shown an interest in applying.
There was discussion of Councilman Erick Stonebarger continuing to serve on the fire board once his city council term was over. Stonebarger stated he would like to serve at the pleasure of the council, but the next council should make that decision after going through the interview process.
The council agreed to start the interview process, both Steve Barr and Joel Bryant will serve as an interview ad-hoc committee for candidates who express interest in the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District.
0 comment
I am glad ECT finally wrote something right when it comes to the fire district instead of pro district rhetoric. Joel Bryant has had his shot, he failed three times in a leadership role to get new revenue. He should be stepping down, not getting rewarded with another term. He was supposed to step down and lied to the public. Kevin Romick kept his promise. To make matters worse, the public, as ECT put it, voted by 60 percent to move to an elected citizens board.
Joel is already stated to another newspaper nothing else can be done. That is not a leader who should be on the fire board or on the Brentwood City Council.
For those who want a real solution and not band aids, visit us at the following page.
https://www.facebook.com/EastCountyVoters/?fref=ts
ECV now, that’s a real knee slapper! I mean specifically YOU posting rhetoric, a false solution and a desperate attempt to link ECV. That group isn’t even offering up a band aid. A lobotomy is more their style. ECV has not come up with a single solution and has been rejected by anyone and everyone with accountability.
Wake up dude, they are no help and only have succeeded in adding silly rhetoric into the mix.
The people voted for an elected board. When that is implemented no person on the ECCFPD board can serve in two elected positions. Those that do will need to resign one or the other.