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County board of directors approves merger of fire districts by Tony Kukulich
Local firefighters work at an incident. The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors has approved a resolution to annex the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District.
Correspondent
REGIONAL East County residents may soon see a long-awaited increase in firefighting and rescue resources after the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) Board of Directors approved a resolution to annex the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD). Con Fire’s board, which is composed of the county’s board of supervisors, unanimously approved the resolution Tuesday, Sept. 14. The ECCFPD Board of Directors is expected to take up the issue during a special meeting that is, as of press time, scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 16. The ECCFPD resolution is widely expected to pass. “Overall it’s going to provide better firefighter safety, and better protection and coverage to the
Press file photo
community with additional services to the communities,” said Gil Guerrero, ECCFPD battalion chief and vice president of Local 1230, the United Professional Firefighters of Contra Costa County. “That’s what it was all about. On the Brentwood
and Oakley side, this is a huge, huge victory for them. We’re going to have services like truck companies, hand crews, hazardous materials (crews), helicopters, dozers – all the things that we don’t have will instantly become part of the service model for
East Contra Costa. This is worldclass service. What Con Fire offers is really state-of-the-art service.” Annexation with Con Fire has long been viewed as a means to imsee Annexation page 18
Discovery Bay appoints new general manager by Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent
Discovery Bay Assistant General Manager Dina Breitstein will become the town’s general manager on Oct. 3. The town’s Community Services District (CSD) Board made the appointment during its regular meeting held Wednesday evening directly after the board accepted the resignation of the town’s current general manager, Mike Davies. “I am really excited,” said Breitstein of her appointment. “There’s nothing like starting out someplace and then being able to lead the helm. It’s such an honor. I have a great staff behind me and I am looking forward to all
the challenges that are coming.” Breitstein started with the town in 2011 as the finance manager. She was promoted to assistant general manager in 2019 and has since gained experience in every facet of Discovery Bay’s management. “I have done everything you can possibly do with the town,” she said. “Whether it’s water and wastewater, utility billing, parks and recreation, communications, I’ve been a part of it all.” Breitstein also noted she intends to look ahead, continuing the town’s tradition of long-term planning to secure the future for Discovery Bay residents. Davies has led the town’s staff for see GM page 18
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Courtesy of Dina Breitstein
Dina Breitstein is the new general manager of the Discovery Bay Community Services District.
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Businesses require proof of COVID test or vaccine REGIONAL A new Contra Costa County health order announced this week requires patrons of restaurants, gyms and other indoor businesses to show either proof that they are fully vaccinated or a negative COVID-19 test result from within the previous three days. The order, effective Sept. 22, applies to businesses in which people remove face coverings to eat or drink indoors, such as restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, and to gyms and other indoor fitness facilities, including yoga and dance studios, where patrons breathe more heavily when they are exercising. The order also includes a requirement for workers in indoor areas of these businesses to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 by Nov. 1, or get tested weekly. The mandate comes as Contra Costa has endured a severe spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations this summer due to the increasing prevalence of the highly infectious Delta variant of the virus and the number of unvaccinated residents, according to Contra Costa County Health Department officials. Other Bay Area communities, including San Francisco and Berkeley, have similar mandates in place. “This order is necessary now to save lives, protect our overbursee Vaccine page 18
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Liberty wins football game
Oakley festival planned
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