Vice Mayor Bret Silveira’s request to remain on the Ceres Concerts in the Park and Fire Contract committees was disregarded by Mayor Javier Lopez at Monday’s City Council meeting.
As a result, Silveira voted against all of Mayor Lopez’s committee appointments but was outvoted 4-1.
Each January the mayor decides which councilmembers will serve on the various committees to represent the council and/or the city. That list must be approved by a vote of the entire council.
On Monday, Silveira said serving on the Concerts in the Park and Fire Advisory Committee is “pretty close to my heart and I’d like to at least serve this last year in my term not knowing what’s going to happen in November.”
Silveira’s seat expires at the end of the year. He has not said if he will seek re-election or run for mayor.
“I’m pretty passionate about both of those things so I’d appreciate if that could be taken into consideration,” Silveira said.
Silveira’s brother John is also involved in the annual summer concerts series, running the sound board.
Mayor Lopez defended his choice to appoint himself to and replace Silveira with Councilman Daniel Martinez on the Fire Contract Committee; and appoint Martinez and Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra to the Ceres Concerts committee, saying they are “a good opportunity for new councilmembers.”
Silveira protested with his single “no” vote.
Mayor Javier Lopez took on the lion share of committee appointments, representing 10 of the 23 committees named.
The following is a list of other committees and the designated representatives from the council:
Christmas Festival – Councilmembers Daniel Martinez and Rosalinda Vierra.
City-Schools Committee – Lopez and Martinez.
Concerts in the Park Committee – Martinez and Vierra.
County-City Selection Committee – Mayor Lopez.
East Stanislaus Integrated Regional Water Management Program (ESIRWSP) – Silveira and Vierra.
Executive Committee, Central Valley Division, League of California Cities – Mayor Lopez.
Economic Development Advisory Committee – Mayor Lopez and the Redevelopment & Economic Development Manager.
Stanislaus Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance (SEAPA) – Councilman James Casey.
StanCOG Policy Board – Mayor Lopez and Martinez as the alternate.
Former Stanislaus-Ceres Redevelopment Commission Successor Agency – the entire City Council City Council.
Surface Water Joint Powers Authority Board (SRWA) –Lopez, Silveira and Vierra as the alternate.
Airport Advisory Committee – Senior Planner Teddie Hernandez and Councilman Casey as the alternate.
Tuolumne River Regional Park Committee – Lopez and Martinez (alternate).
Whitmore House Preservation Committee – No appointment made.
Youth Commission – No appointment made.
West Turlock Sub-basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (JPA) – Silveira with Casey as the alternate.
Stanislaus Homeless Alliance – Casey and Vierra as the alternate.
Former Ceres Redevelopment Agency City Council Successor Agency – the entire City Council.
Ceres Partnership for Healthy Children – no appointment made.
Opportunity Stanislaus – Lopez.
Local Emergency Planning Committee – Lopez and Martinez.
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Special Selection Committee – Vierra.
