HOLLISTER
– The Hollister City Council on Wednesday approved layoffs of 36
employees – while expressing a commitment to try and save some
positions before July 1, when the plan takes effect.
HOLLISTER – The Hollister City Council on Wednesday approved layoffs of 36 employees – while expressing a commitment to try and save some positions before July 1, when the plan takes effect.
Members unanimously adopted the resolution after listening to more than a dozen speakers, most of whom pleaded for a different approach than the “reduction in force.”
Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia – whose daughter’s City Hall clerical position made the list – motioned for the adoption. But she added several provisions that involved the city “seriously evaluating” other ideas over the next six months.
She wants the city to save as many positions as possible – especially “key positions,” she said.
“I’m really hoping and praying things will get better,” Valdivia said. “I really think the number is going to be reduced.”
More than 40 people, young and old, city employees and concerned citizens, gathered in front of City Hall for a city layoff vigil before the meeting. They hoped that their presence alone would do something to affect the outcome of the 36 city positions in jeopardy.
Council members added brief comments and requests before the vote. As officials spoke, it became increasingly evident the Council would not remove any positions from the list.
Councilman Robert Scattini requested the city look into selling an array of equipment. Councilman Tony LoBue asked for a subcommittee to oversee programs to help laid-off employees.
And Mayor Tony Bruscia took up union head John Vellardita on a “resolution” he gave to Council members for consideration during the meeting. Vellardita is executive director of the local Service Employees International Union.
The Council adopted two of four parts from Vellardita’s document: a commitment to hold town hall meetings on the issue and another for the city manager to present a new “organizational structure plan” for the workforce.
“Do we acknowledge that there’s commitment on the part of this Council to, in good faith, try to find solutions as much as possible, in lieu of reductions?” Vellardita said. “We take it as a good sign.”
The approval was a culmination of building pressures on Council members and increasing frustrations from employees since the plan was made public Jan. 9. Cuts include all departments and a broad range of seniority – including the fire chief, finance director and planning director.
Employees have pushed for talks between unions and city management – and for those to occur before an approval of layoffs. While Hollister officials have stressed the city should adopt a plan, then explore negotiations with employee groups and possibilities for changes.
At the meeting’s outset, a presentation of financial projections by Finance Director Barbara Mulholland disclosed millions in potential debt spending.
City Manager Dale Shaddox had commissioned the Finance Department to compile the projections, which included six wide-ranging scenarios.
Still, every one of them resulted in debt spending by 2009, and the worst – which included no layoffs and a $1.5 million annual take-away from state government – accrued a $17.8 million debt.
But employees and union leaders questioned the accuracy of those projections. Vellardita pointed out that several aspects of the financial forecast changed since the Jan. 12 meeting – including a $1.3 million discrepancy in the General Fund reserve discovered last week.
“It speaks to the fact there needs to be more time spent on this process,” he said.
Before the meeting concluded, Bruscia addressed those concerns.
“They’re not perfect,” he said of the numbers. “We’ll continue to work on them. We’ll continue to make sure they’re as accurate as possible.”
Throughout the 75-minute public comment period, employees and residents spoke about losses in services to the community and in their own personal lives.
Wendi Reed, an account technician in the Finance Department whose position made the list, said she would lose a sense of “family and togetherness” she gained from working for the city.
“Leaving my city family will be one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” she said, fighting back tears.
Next, city leaders will approach 40 employees who are eligible for an early retirement incentive program, according to Shaddox. Then some employees on the list with seniority must decide whether to use a “bumping rights” policy. It allows them to accept another job of equal or lesser seniority – but at someone else’s expense.
Shaddox expects to know who will participate in both by the end of April, he said.
