GILROY
– Fire Chief Jeff Clet spoke before the county’s Local Agency
Formation Commission Wednesday in San Jose, reiterating Gilroy city
officials’ worries that LAFCO will inhibit local control.
GILROY – Fire Chief Jeff Clet spoke before the county’s Local Agency Formation Commission Wednesday in San Jose, reiterating Gilroy city officials’ worries that LAFCO will inhibit local control.
LAFCO’s recent studies of county fire service made Gilroy City Administrator Jay Baksa and other officials worried that they might lose control of their fire department.
“The report suggests that a single (fire service) provider would be more efficient,” Clet said. Nevertheless, he added, “It’s unclear how LAFCO will effectively use this study.”
LAFCO does not have the authority to consolidate fire departments on its own, but it does have to power to approve or deny annexation requests.
“The concern of the city is that we may get an annexation request or a sphere of influence request denied, and we can’t do anything about it,” Clet said. “That’s inconsistent with local control.
“We’re subject to the combined will of more than one elected body, and they may not always be consistent with the needs of Gilroy
