Amid a major personnel change-up at the Oceano Community Services District (OCSD), its board is also getting a new president for 2024—one who some local residents have said is the cause of the district’s current state of disarray.
Director Charles Varni was appointed in a 3-2 vote on Dec. 13 to be the OCSD’s board president in 2024. Board directors Shirley Gibson and Linda Austin dissented.
The appointment came after multiple community members spoke out against having him as president, asking current President Allene Villa to reconsider her choice of Varni and to stay on as the board’s leader for another term.
“President Villa, you are a strong Latina woman who’s taking on Oceano and if you could do another term, do one more year, and show us what you can do, as you’re doing a good job. We just got to come together and make the right decisions,” one local resident said during public comment. “We’ve all seen what Varni does; he’s the toxic one on that whole panel. We just need you to be here for another year to help Oceano. Do the right thing please.”
Austin agreed with the sentiment, telling the outgoing president that she had grown a lot in Villa’s year at the helm, with more growth possible in the future if she remained in her position.
“I really would like to see you stay and see Shirley stay as vice president; we have a new general manager coming in and we’re going to have a new legal counsel, and I think any big changes are not wanted right now,” Austin said. “I just think I’m happy with the job you’ve been doing, and I would like to see you stay as the [president].”
Both the current general manager, Will Clemens, and the board’s legal counsel announced their resignations in October. Former OCSD General Manager Paavo Ogren will take over as interim general manager in January, and the search for a new legal counsel was ongoing as of New Times’ press time.
Villa responded to Austin by saying it was time for her to step away because she felt that Varni had shown dedication and commitment to the community in his time on the board.
“I’ve done my year, and it wasn’t easy, it was very difficult,” she said. “It was a difficult year, and I’ve felt caught in the middle, but I’ve always voted the way I feel is best for my community. I don’t vote just because some director wants me to vote a certain way, I vote the correct way for my community.”
Director Beverly Joyce-Suneson—who was appointed vice president at the same meeting, also defended Varni—stating that throughout his time as director, he’s always had the best interest of Oceano in mind.
“Director Varni has had a lot of negative comments and a lot of hostility thrown at him, and I believe it’s been by invitation,” Joyce-Suneson said. “He has never wavered, he has always remained on target with what he’s been trying to accomplish, and that is something we need to recognize. That is commendable behavior.”
Varni told New Times that he’s going to ensure everyone is held to a basic code of civility in 2024, and that those who don’t wish to follow it will face consequences in accordance with the Brown Act.
“If someone is disrupting the meeting, such that the government body cannot do its work, then they can be removed from that meeting,” Varni said. “It’s either going to be a two or three strike sort of thing. … Attacking an individual is not going to be allowed. You need to stop and get to the point, and if they do it a second time, then they’ll be asked to leave the meeting.”
He added that law enforcement will be present at board meetings moving forward, Varni said.
“I’ve been chair on a number of organizations in my career … and this isn’t rocket science, but it does take everybody committing to following the guidelines,” he said. “I think what we’ve seen in Oceano is that there are certain individuals who I think feel an entitlement just to say whatever they want, use any kind of language they want, and attack people rather than addressing the issues.”
This comment comes after SLO County 4th District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding sent a letter to the OCSD stating that the board was showing incivility and dysfunction, and highlighting steps board members can take to ensure that they can work more collaboratively.
“In recent years, the county Board of Supervisors along with all seven cities adopted a code of civility. I believe your board would benefit from diligently following a similar code by helping guide discussions and healthy debate during your deliberations,” Paulding’s letter stated.
Overall, Varni said he’s looking forward to next year and new faces on the OCSD.
“We’re going to have a new team that sets a new precedent and is looking to move forward in a positive way,” he said. Δ
This article appears in Dec 21-31, 2023.
Now we get to read Aaron Ochs’ verbal vomit in the comments. Oh yay 🙂
Speaking of vomit, does your orange jumpsuit still fit you? Eavesdropping, huh?
Aaron, 🤣
First of all, thank you to the New Times for its continuing coverage of news in Oceano. When Ms Herrera asked to interview me for this article she said it was to be about my view of being elected President and the grant I wrote to support field trips of Oceano students that was just awarded $16,000 dollar by the States Park Organization. Naturally, I am curious a to why none of these topics appeared in the story? Or any of the other exciting news I shared in the interview like:
1. The recent announcement of groundbreaking in Spring 2024 on the $1.8 million Oceano Plaza at 17th and Beach streets which I mobilized public support and lobbied for over a year long period.
2. The decision by SLO Council of Governments and SLO County to submit a $3.5 million grant application to the Department of Transportation in 2024 for new sidewalks, complete streets, safer intersections, and bike corridors for inland Oceano.
3. My working with local agencies and our elected officials to pursue funding for a sidewalk infill project on Highway 1 which, for the first time in Oceano history, will create a safe route to the beach and State Park for inland Oceano residents. It will also allow Oceano School students to do SAFE walking field trips to the State Park for educational programs at the Nature Center and beach.
4. A successful grant application through OCSD Parks and Recreation (OPARC) for $16,000 to fund multiple field trips to State Parks for every Oceano elementary school student in 2024.
5. A major collaboration between OCSD, Lucia Mar School District, and Habitat for Humanity to create a walking/jogging track at Oceano school for community and school use. OPARC will be helping to coordinate the community fund raising drive and it will be a wonderful opportunity for our community to work together on something which potentially benefits everyone.
As President, with a new General Manager and Legal Counsel, I hope to create a culture of civility on the Board and the community. A fresh start for Oceano. While this will take time I believe we can make progress if citizens commit to a basic code of civil behavior which will be expected among all in attendance at our public meetings. Details of this will be rpresented at the beginning of our Jan 4, 2024 meeting by the myself, our Legal Counsel Mr Schultz, and the County Sheriff. Here’s hoping that 2024 will be a great year for our community of Oceano. Best wishes to all.
Okay, Charles, so why did you vote against your own criminal referral to the District Attorney? That’s obstruction of justice.
Mr, Varni,
A 3-2 vote for you to become the President of the OCSD is not a mandate. You also voted yourself innocent of violating the Brown Act in another 3-2 vote. I’m betting this will be talked about for quite awhile. Have an idea this is not going to be the last word on this matter. Secondly your reply is all about you. I did this and I got that. How many of these project and items you talk about are a part of the by-laws and what the OCSD was formed to do? Side walks, side walks, and more talk about side walks. You said “My working with local agencies and our elected officials to pursue funding for a sidewalk infill project on Highway 1”. Show us where fundraising for sidewalks is mentioned to be a duty of the OCSD. Plus not so sure how safe an unprotected sidewalk in a 45 MPH zone will be. Again, why have you turned this into being a duty of the OCSD?
I do thank you for securing a grant for the transportation of elementary school kids to field trips. That was great. My wife and I use to chaperon many of our son’s field trips when he was in grammar school, and we enjoyed the trips as much as the kids did. Now here’s hoping you can keep securing funds like this for the next 10 years. Now does the credit go to you or to OCSD?
In closing I have one last question for you. You stated ” I hope to create a culture of civility on the Board and the community. A fresh start for Oceano. While this will take time I believe we can make progress if citizens commit to a basic code of civil behavior which will be expected among all in attendance at our public meetings”. Does that include yourself and you disregard for legal counsel?
You have been on a number of boards and committees through your years, and you know what is going on. You know what your doing.
Kerry Langford
P.S. Have the dates of the board meetings been changed? I thought the first board meeting was on Wednesday, January 10 and not on Thursday, January 4.
Hey April,
If you don’t want to read what Aaron has to say, then don’t read her comments. Plain and simple. Like your ideal Varni said, “It’s not rocket science”.