So, to continue from last week
… Monday night comes, and while the rest of you are sitting down
to dinner or watching the news, councilmembers are in study session
(even in off weeks) deciding esoterica like which street lamps we
like for the downtown, labor negotiations, and a plethora of other
items which it will be up to us
to decide.
After the study session, the Council meeting itself is
convened.
So, to continue from last week … Monday night comes, and while the rest of you are sitting down to dinner or watching the news, councilmembers are in study session (even in off weeks) deciding esoterica like which street lamps we like for the downtown, labor negotiations, and a plethora of other items which it will be up to us to decide.
After the study session, the Council meeting itself is convened.
We’re lucky in Gilroy; even when we don’t agree, the disagreement rarely degenerates to the rather vicious politics we sometimes see in Hollister or Santa Cruz. Motions are made, and positions staked out. I made it a point to shut up and vote for items like bids and acquisitions; on items which I considered to be of some importance, I explained my position. I always tried to limit my remarks to three minutes for two reasons. One, that’s what the public gets, and two, I’ve always felt that if you can’t explain your position on an issue in three minutes, you need to rethink your position.
There are, of course, various subtexts taking place on the dais during meetings. Rhonda Pellin, city clerk, makes sure there are snacks like cookies, M&Ms, and cashews behind the line of sight. We look at each other and roll our eyes and smile when we’re obviously being lied to; Joe Klein, who runs the TV cameras for the meetings, routinely holds up signs giving the 49ers or World Series scores from his room off to the side of the dais.
There used to be the occasional snide remark to a neighbor when we were miked, because we had a cutoff switch; that option went away when the stalk microphones were installed.
There’s one thing that many have asked me since I left office, and that question is why some councilmembers are quoted in this paper more than others. I’ve occasionally heard the opinion that favoritism is in play, but the answer is very simple, I believe. Those who get ink either answer the phone or return phone calls to the paper. I always tried to return phone calls diligently because of my fondness for this rag, as well as my firm belief that the people have a right to know why their elected officials made decisions.
Each councilmember has pet peeves. Mine was Bonfante Gardens. While I applaud Michael and Claudia Bonfante’s dream, after many visits to the park I am just not sure it’s a sustainable business model. I hope I’m wrong. However, it seemed that not many months went by without a request from the park for a concession from the city.
The dais can be a tough town; sometimes you just have to hold your nose and vote yes, because you don’t want to be the guy who drove the final nail.
Yes, and we have people we like, as well. My favorite council lobbyist was the late Bill Lindsteadt, the City’s Economic Development Director. Bill was a juggernaut of energy, and being on the receiving end of his pitches was a privilege I will value always.
Bill’s rants always started out with “hey, I need to talk to ya!” and a firm handshake. He started his pitch in a normal voice, and made logical points on why he was for the project under discussion. As the conversation went on, though, his volume went up, he’d get in closer to you, and grab your arm and shake it, and turn up the volume again. At the end, it was pretty much like an old-fashioned revival, because Bill believed in economic development like a preacher believes in saving souls. I think of him often, and miss him a lot. Our city lost a great one there, and in a fair world, Bill and Raisa would be in that RV he always talked about getting following Cornhusker football.
Did I mention the grocery store? Yes, it’s a councilmember duty. We are known, and everyone wants to stop and chat, and mention a problem or solution. I’m sure each of the other guys has learned to add 30 minutes onto the weekly shopping trip, because you can’t just cut people off. I even listened to a few ideas that made sense.
Pay? I got about $700 per month for the job. Not peanuts, but not a fortune either, and of course the health and dental benefits were nice for a self-employed person, as I am. But on an hourly basis? Easy answer: about minimum wage. The job takes 20 to 25 hours a week to do, and could be full time, if the member so desired. Nobody does the job for the pay, though, because make no mistake, it’s community service.
So that’s the way it was. I notice from the calendar that Christmas is a few days away, so from the gang on Victoria Drive, Bob, the Fair Phyllis, her mom, Edna, Daniel the Spaniel and Macavity (the wonder cat), the happiest and safest of holidays, and Avoid the 13.
Bob Dillon is a former Gilroy city councilman and a longtime scribe. His column is published each Thursday. Reach him at rt******@****ic.com
