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YOUR HOMETOWN NEWS | SERVING EAST COUNTY
Vol. 23, No. 53
Parents angry over facemask policy
by Tony Kukulich Correspondent
such as the mayor and city manager, because the investigation was ongoing at that time. Cole did not specify the nature of what led to the administrative leave, but stressed that the situation with Capelletti was civil, not criminal conduct by the former chief. Cole described the decision as an “employment matter” and said it was subject to attorney-client confidentiality. “There were complaints made and that triggered an investigation, which was essentially carried out through the office of the city attorney working with special counsel and a special in-
REGIONAL The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) recently received more than $24,000 from the state after legislators allocated $100 million for special districts that either lost revenue or incurred unanticipated expenses as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “COVID-19 has impacted us all and your fire district is not immune,” said ECCFPD Fire Chief Brian Helmick. “The additional cost in answering the calls for service has been significant. We’re extremely grateful for this support.” Contra Costa County received $3,329,435 from the state’s Special District COVID-19 Relief Fund. The fire district applied for $125,000, but was ultimately awarded $24,296, said Steve Aubert, ECCFPD fire marshal and public information officer. Among other special districts in the county that received allocations from the relief fund were the: Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District ($1,314,137); Central Costa County Sanitation District ($996,177); Kensington Police Protection and Community Services District ($387,210); RodeoHercules Fire Protection District
see Oakley page 18
see Grant page 18
Staff Writer
Photo by Raymond Figueroa
T
he dreary winter conditions gave way to a large rainbow over Heritage High School this week. Brentwood resident Raymond Figueroa was in position with his camera to capture the natural beauty.
see Masks page 18
Oakley addresses police chief’s firing “ We believe we handled the matter by
It was a civil, not criminal matter
the book. We believe the decision that was made was justified and we are committed to providing a workplace that is free of any type of discrimination.
by Jake Menez Staff Writer
OAKLEY The Dec. 14 meeting of the Oakley City Council was the first time city officials shed any light on why former Police Chief Dean Capelletti was fired. “We’re bound by some confidentiality rules,” Mayor Randy Pope said. “I don’t want to divulge anything illegally. But can we tell the public as much as we
”
City Attorney Derek Cole can regarding the police chief situation?” During the public comment portion of the meeting, an unidentified woman made the only comment in which she expressed concerns over the lack of trans-
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parency in the way the city has handled situations such as the firing of Capelletti in November. Capelletti had initially been placed on administrative leave in September, although no reason had been provided by officials,
Cop Logs ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 12 Opinion ��������������������������������������������������������������������������8
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December 31, 2021
Fire district receives COVID-19 relief money
From rain to rainbow
by Jake Menez BRENTWOOD The Brentwood Unified School District is facing continued challenges to its policy on face coverings after several community members read letters of demand at the Dec. 15 board meeting. These letters alleged that the school district was endangering the schoolchildren by enforcing a policy that requires students to wear face coverings on school grounds in accordance with statewide
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