Bear Valley CSD elects board officers — again
The police chief job in Bear Valley Springs has been vacant since Chief Dan Suttles left on Jan. 4, and recruitment efforts for a new chief are underway.
In the meantime, the district will follow its chain of command policy with the sergeant in charge of police operations, the Board of Directors decided on Dec. 11 on a 3-2 vote.
The board agenda suggested three options for directors — continue with the chain of command or appoint one of two applicants for interim chief of police, Sgt. Dain Hurst and Officer Jay Stella.
Following public comments and board discussion, a decision to stick with the chain of command was made, with board President John Grace and Vice President Martin Hernandez voting against the motion.
BOARD OFFICERS
Also, at the Jan. 11 meeting, the board elected its officers — again.
Board officers were elected about a month ago at the Dec. 14 meeting, but the item appeared on the agenda again. In an email on Jan. 10, Interim General Manager Wesley Shryock said the election would take place again because of a technicality.
When the item came before the board at the Jan. 11 meeting, a community member — Don Johnson — asked why, but neither Shryock nor any of the board members responded.
Another community member, Kevin Rice, said during public comments that the reason the item was before the board again was because he had submitted a protest related to the December vote because, he said, no public comment was allowed before the board voted.
He said he expected the outcome of the officer election would be the same but thinks it is important for the board to remember that the state’s “sunshine law” allows the public to speak.
The election results were the same as last month — John Grace was reelected as board president by a unanimous vote. Martin Hernandez was elected vice president by a 3-2 vote with Directors Charles Jensen and Geva Frevert voting against his election. Jensen previously served as vice president.
FORESTRY GRANT
The board also unanimously approved the submission of a grant application for up to $7 million in funding from the Forest Health Grant Program provided by California Climate Investments.