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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 10, No. 6
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February 10, 2012
Dawson resigns from CSD board
Wealth watch
by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer Beleaguered CSD Director Brian Dawson resigned from the Discovery Bay CSD board this week in the wake of a contentious battle to recall the director following his arrest on charges of spousal battery and child endangerment. The Discovery Bay resident submitted his letter of resignation to the town’s general manager on Monday, Feb. 4, the same day recall proponents were set to file their signatures with the county elections department. “Today is not a day of joy or release, but rather one of unremitting pain,” wrote Dawson in an e-mail to The Press. “I have resigned my office as a Director of the Town of Discovery Bay.” Dawson – who suffers from bipolar disorder – was arrested in August and charged in December with two counts of spousal battery and child endangerment. He has pleaded not guilty and was expected to appear in pretrial court this week. Despite persistent calls for resignation from members of the community over the past few months – as well as from two of his fellow board members – Dawson has repeatedly refused to step aside. But the threat of a recall (which would cost
Our Money Matters section offers insights on how to cultivate and keep your hardearned cash. Page 1B
Finances still fine Press file photo
CSD Director Brian Dawson, shown here during a recent meeting, resigned his seat on the town board this week following a months-long effort by local residents to have the director recalled. the town an estimated $50,000) and continued stress on his family prompted Dawson to reconsider. “My reasons were really twofold,” he said. “To protect the district from the cost of an election and to save my family the pain of going through any more of the vitriol that was becom-
ing commonplace about town.” Residents on both sides of the recall issue have engaged in a bitter struggle over the past few months, escalating in recent weeks with accusa-
The county’s preliminary budget gives officials cause for cautious optimism. Page 3A
Lions grab the broom
see Dawson page 26A
No sunset on fire tax – for now by Rick Lemyre
“ We know there will be an $11 million
Staff Writer A proposed $197 parcel tax aimed at solving the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District’s financial woes will probably not include a sunset clause, according to a decision this week by the district’s board. After discussing feedback the district has received in a series of meetings to inform the public about the details of the measure proposed for the June ballot, the board chose not to include an automatic end of the tax, an element mentioned by several members of the public. In a 6-3 straw poll vote at its Monday meeting, the board decided to emphasize the annual
deficit in year 11 if the tax goes away. We’ll be right back in the same position we are now, and that’s not viable.
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ECCFPD Director Steve Barr review already built into the tax rather than add a sunset clause that could leave the district in the same financial shape it is now. Directors Jim Frazier and Kevin Romick of Oakley were joined by Clayton’s Cheryl Morgan in saying they preferred the sunset clause because they’re concerned the tax would not pass without it. Directors Pat Anderson (Oak-
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ley), Joel Bryant, Steve Barr, Erick Stonebarger and Bob Brockman (Brentwood) and Robert Kenny (Bethel Island) opposed the sunset clause. “We know there will be an $11 million deficit in year 11 if the tax goes away,” said Director Steve Barr of Brentwood. “We’ll be right back in the same position we are now, and that’s not viable.”
Frazier, however, believes that should the tax not pass, the viability deficiency would kick in when district reserves are exhausted in June. He said the sunset clause had been a priority for attendees at the two Oakley community meetings he had attended, and doubted that an open-ended tax would garner the two-thirds majority needed for passage. He preferred that the tax automatically end after 10 years, and that the district go back to the voters to either extend or retract the levy. Romick agreed, saying, “If we (the district board) are doing our jobs, the public will be able to see that.” see Sunset page 26A
Liberty’s season sweep of Heritage featured hard-nosed defense and hard-won buckets. Page 19A Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 17B Cop Logs ............................ 22B Entertainment ................. 23B Food .................................... 12B Health & Beauty ..............16A Milestones ........................12A Money Matters .................. 1B Opinion ..............................18A Sports .................................19A FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Cookie monsters Winning wardrobe Heart’s content go to news/WebExtras!
The Girl Scouts are celebrating their 100th birthday with a new treat.
go to news/press releases A clothing drive will help women receive professional business attire.
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Zumbamaniacs broke a sweat and boosted funds for women’s health.