Discovery Bay Press_11.13.09

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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa

Vol. 7, No. 46

Including Surrounding Communities

www.thepress.net

CSD deadlocks, calls special meeting on new directors by Ruth Roberts

CSD directors Mark Simon, Ray Tetreault and David Piepho interviewed seven candidates for the two empty director’s seats at the Nov. 4 CSD meeting. The directors were unable to agree upon the appointments and revisited the process again during a special meeting on Nov. 11.

Staff Writer Discovery Bay’s three remaining CSD board members, unable to agree on the appointment of two new directors, planned to hold a special meeting on Nov. 11 to give the process another try. During an occasionally fractious regular meeting of the CSD on Nov. 4, President Ray Tetreault, Vice President Mark Simon and Director David Piepho deadlocked on the appointment of the two seats left vacant in September by the resignations of Treasurer Dave Dove and Director Shannon MurphyTeixiera. The appointment of two new directors has been a controversial topic in Discovery Bay since the resignations of Dove and MurphyTeixiera. Some residents have questioned – others have defended – the decision-making motives of the remaining board. An indication of the

Photo by Richard Wisdom

tension between various factions of the town, Police Chief Mike Burton addressed the audience at the outset of last week’s meeting. “There have been some concerns about public safety at this meeting and it’s a concern to me that in a town with duck crossing signs and a country club we could not have a respectful meeting,” said Burton, referring to calls he had

received from the general public. “As your chief of police, I would be absolutely embarrassed for all of us if someone were to act out (at the meeting). I know it means a lot to you and I respect that, but I ask you to be respectful of each other.” Nine residents originally submitted applications for the two seats, but only seven remained in the running by the Nov. 4 meeting.

They were Dominic Carano, Brian Dawson, Kevin Graves, Don Flint, Bud Kyle, Michael McCleery and Walter MacVittie. Roger DiFate withdrew his application at the last minute and Rose Solberg was a noshow. Following a brief presentation by each of the candidates and a few see Directors page 15A

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November 13, 2009

THIS WEEK

Guidelines for gifting

Hoping to wrap up your holiday shopping swiftly and smoothly? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide.

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Calling all candidates The Byron Union School District Board of Trustees is looking for a few good people to compete for a seat.

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Something’s gotta give

Opinions flow on state water bills by Dave Roberts Staff Writer

Local reaction to the water legislation passed last week in Sacramento ranges from raising a glass in celebration to a lukewarm wait-and-see attitude to simply considering it all wet, depending on whom you talk to. The five water bills provide for a new Delta governing board that could approve a peripheral canal, require water conservation of 20 percent in urban areas, increase monitoring of groundwater, increase penalties for illegally taking water from the Delta and place an $11 billion bond for water projects on the ballot next November. Local Delta users and advocates have long been mistrustful of efforts in Sacramento to “fix” the Delta, fearing that it’s mostly a ruse to send more water south rather than keep it in the Delta to preserve the ecosystem. “Obviously, I am disappointed, as should everybody in the Delta,” said Roger Mammon, an Oakley resident and board member of the advocacy organization Restore the Delta. “They are passing all these things about Delta protection, but there’s no enforcement body behind it or penalties. There’s so much to it, it’s kind of hard to track it all. But if you really look at it, there’s a lot of pork in this thing. It looks like

“ The approval of this

“ Obviously, I am

water package represents a significant milestone for water policy in California.

disappointed, as should everybody in the Delta.

Jennifer Allen, CCWD there’s a general obligation bond that will be paid for by the general public and the projects will benefit Southern California and the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, which has the most junior water rights in the state.” Of the bond’s $11 billion, $3 billion is designated for water storage, $2.2 billion for Delta projects such as levee reinforcement and ecosystem restoration, $1.7 billion for watershed conservation throughout the state, $1.4 billion for water management and delivery projects, $1.2 for water recycling and conservation, $1 billion for groundwater cleanup and protection and $455 million for drought relief. But Mammon is skeptical that local Delta users will see much benefit. Asked whether they will get anything from the water package, he said, “Yeah, they get the shaft.” In contrast, the Contra Costa Water Dis-

Roger Mammon, Restore the Delta

When the 10-4 Lions and 10-4 Patriots clashed, they had more than a sentimental crosstown rivalry on their minds.

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trict (CCWD), which gets all of its water from the Delta, welcomes the legislation, believing it will improve water quality. “The approval of this water package represents a significant milestone for water policy in California,” said Jennifer Allen, CCWD senior public information specialist. “It doesn’t fix the Delta but provides the framework and financing needed to begin the critical restoration program needed to ensure Delta sustainability. It includes the establishment of state policy that improves Delta water quality, making water supply more reliable, and provides flood control in the Delta. It will also set requirements for flows out of the Delta before more projects can be implemented.” That includes the proposed peripheral

Calendar ..........................23B Classifieds ........................14B Cop Logs ..........................17A Entertainment ................11B Food .................................10B Health & Beauty ............... 7B Holiday Gift Guide ........... 1B Opinion ...........................16A Outdoors ...........................6A Sports ...............................19A

see Water page 15A

FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A

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