12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY november 30-december 6, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com On Nov. 7, 87 percent of the 71 members of the Monterey Firefighters Association Local 3707 took a vote of “no confidence” in Monterey Fire Chief Gaudenz Panholzer, the union announced on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The public announcement was sudden but the discontent has been simmering for years, says MFA President Ross Pounds. After two significant injuries earlier this year and the departure of an experienced and respected firefighter to another agency, the situation came to boil. “As opposed to moving in a more positive direction, it seems that things continue to deteriorate,” Pounds says. “Our morale is at an all-time low. We have people who have left the department and people who are looking to leave.” The resolution—passed following guidelines outlined in state law and after months of discussion— lists numerous complaints against Panholzer’s leadership, including a failure to communicate the needs for new vehicles, equipment and station maintenance to the City of Monterey and contract agencies Pacific Grove, Carmel, Sand City and Monterey Regional Airport. The result, the union contends, is an aging fleet with substandard equipment that shuts down or malfunctions while fighting structure fires, as well as stations with mold, sewage leaks and leaking roofs. Monterey City Manager Hans Uslar issued a written statement pointing out that the city has purchased two new fire engines and other vehicles at a cost of $4 million. While stating that he and the Monterey City Council take the vote of no confidence and firefighters’ concerns seriously, he also noted the timing of the vote coincides with a “contentious” binding arbitration process between the city and the union over a contract that expired in June 2022. Arbitrators are set to meet in December. Pounds says the vote on Panholzer’s leadership is a separate issue from the union’s disagreements with city management over wages and benefits. Both Pounds and Uslar emphasize that the no confidence vote will not affect service to the community. Union representatives have met numerous times with Uslar and members of the City Council about their concerns, Pounds says. They decided to go public with the vote after seeing little response from city officials. Panholzer did not respond to a request for comment. Panholzer was hired as chief in 2013. Four years later, he was fired by then-city manager Mike McCarthy in November 2017. A few weeks later, McCarthy was fired by the city council. Uslar, acting as interim city manager at the time, reversed the decision. Over recent months, Soledad residents have lost confidence in their City Council during the transition from at-large to district elections. On Oct. 4, council voted 3-2 to approve a five-district map and a rotating mayor, despite community outcry. This triggered the formation of Soledad Committee for Voting Rights, a group that pushed for a referendum. They collected 1,405 signatures by Oct. 30, well over the required threshold to get a referendum on the ballot—841, or 10 percent of the number of registered voters in Soledad. Monterey County Elections Department officials verified 862 as valid signatures of registered voters, meaning the referendum on district lines will be on the ballot in Soledad in the March 5, 2024 primary election. During this political upheaval, Soledad City Councilmember Alejandro Chavez and his wife, Erica Padilla-Chavez, a Hartnell College trustee, resigned from public office due to a move out of their districts. Chavez’s resignation took effect Oct. 31, and PadillaChavez’s on Nov. 2. During a special meeting on Nov. 13, Soledad City Council voted to fill Chavez’s vacancy by election, rather than making an appointment. “We’ve seen in the past that the appointment process has not been fair and impartial,” said Monica Andrade, a spokesperson for Soledad Committee for Voting Rights (also also the wife of City Councilmember Fernando Cabrera). The councilmember election will also take place on March 5, and will be an at-large position to fill the remainder of Chavez’s term, through 2026. As of Nov. 27, no one has filed documents to run for the vacant council seat. The last day to file is Dec. 8. At Hartnell, the board of trustees opted to appoint a new member. Three people applied and on Nov. 21, the board selected Sonia Jaramillo to represent District 6 until the next election, in November of 2024. Chief Beef A firefighters union takes a vote of no confidence against the Monterey fire chief. By Pam Marino news Ready for Winter It’s always emergency preparedness season in Monterey County. Learn from county, state and local officials steps you can take to be ready for flooding and other natural disasters at this information fair. 10am-1:30pm Saturday, Dec. 2. Ramsay Family Center, 1301 Main St., Watsonville. Free. 768-3010, tinyurl. com/tv2tszh6 Stronger bond Salinas Union High School District is hosting its 13th annual parent conference “Strengthening the Family.” Students and parents or guardians will learn about a range of topics such as human trafficking, health, career technical education, parenting skills and more. 8am-3pm Saturday, Dec. 2. Harden Middle School, 1561 McKinnon St., Salinas. Free; open to parents/guardians and students; breakfast, lunch and childcare provided. To register, visit bit. ly/3R9CvWe. For more information, call 796-7060 ext. 8161 or email annette. arandaaguayo@salinasuhsd.org. city process Monterey City Council meets and, as always, accepts public comment. Offer up your ideas for a better city. 4pm and 7pm Tuesday, Dec. 5. Colton Hall, 580 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 646-3799, monterey.org. Church and State A new state law streamlines the conversion of property owned by churches or other faith communities into housing. Learn more about financing, legal requirements and permitting in a webinar with Rev. Dr. G. Penny Nixon, Rev. Jake Medcalf, LandWatch Executive Director Michael DeLapa and LandWatch legal counsel John Farrow. Noon Wednesday, Dec. 6. Virtual event via Zoom; register online. Free. 7592824, bit.ly/ChurchHousing. Flight Time The City of Salinas is updating its airport master plan and officials are seeking community input on the municipal airport. Attendees will learn more and have an opportunity to provide ideas for the airport they want in the city. 1pm Wednesday, Dec. 6. Airport administration building, 342 Airport Blvd., Salinas. Free. 758-7214, cityofsalinas. org. Winter Melody Youth Orchestra Salinas performs its winter concert. Expect seasonal favorites including “A Latin Christmas” and “Como la Flor” by Selena. 7pm (doors open at 6:30pm) Wednesday, Dec. 6. Sherwood Hall, 940 N. Main St., Salinas. Free; donations accepted; RSVP required. yosal.org. Ballot Box Soledad voters will decide on the future of district elections, and elect a new council member. By Celia Jiménez Monterey Fire Chief Gaudenz Panholzer was the subject of a vote of no confidence by rank-and-file firefighters on Nov. 7. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “Our morale is at an all-time low.” Daniel Dreifuss
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