Big Bear City, CA — Given the April 5 resignation of Big Bear City Community Services District Director Barbara Beck, at last night’s meeting, the remaining Board of Directors—President Marge McDonald, Vice President John Day, Jeff Newsome and Rick Ollila—addressed how they would fill the elected position, which extends through November 2012. As Beck had only served just over a year on the four-year term, her replacement will continue until the November 2010 election, rather than through 2012. The Board of Directors were unanimous in their choice to, rather than hold a special election or wait until November, appoint a new director; McDonald then said, “We will listen to the candidates on May 3 and, at that time, we will appoint someone.” At present, the Community Services District is accepting resumés from those individuals interested in appointment to the board; requirements, to be outlined on the bbccsd.org website, dictate that registered voters who live within the CSD service area may apply by submitting a resumé to the CSD offices no later than 5pm on Monday, April 26. At the regular 5:30pm meeting of CSD on May 3, applicants will be asked questions prepared by Day, Ollila and Newsome, who said his questions will likely be directed toward district spending and, in his words, “Are you aligned with one board member more than another?” So, all told, applicants for the CSD Director position will need to submit a resume to the CSD offices at 139 E. Big Bear Boulevard on or before April 26; on May 3, applicants will be interviewed during the open session portion of the CSD meeting and an appointee will be named, so that the new, fifth director will be on board by May 11, to participate in budget proceedings for the upcoming fiscal year. Should the appointee choose to continue on the CSD Board, they can run for election in November; it is likely that CSD will open specific seats on the ballot, for either a two-year or four-year term. In his closing comments during the April 19 meeting, VP Day said, “I really hope we can have an open discussion when we discuss the replacement for Barbara.” Earlier this month McDonald had noted that applicants should already be familiar with CSD, which oversees trash, sewer and water services for East Valley residents, while, for his part, Newsome noted on Monday, “It’s an admirable endeavor to want to serve the public.”
