Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Warren Slocum, District 4
Subject: Recommendation for Appointment and Reappointments to the San Mateo County Veterans Commission
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation for the appointment and reappointments to the San Mateo County Veterans Commission, each as a member for a term ending June 30, 2023:
A) Donna Vaillancourt, Redwood City, appointment for a first full term; and
B) Fred Baer, Foster City, reappointment for a second full term; and
C) Al Banfield, South San Francisco, reappointment for a second full term; and
D) Francisco Oliva, Redwood City, reappointment for a second full term; and
E) Jacob Pletcher, Redwood City, reappointment for a second full term.
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BACKGROUND:
On June 2, 2015, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 073812 establishing the San Mateo County Veterans Commission. The mandate of the Veterans Commission includes the promotion of programs and policies that address the unmet needs of veterans in San Mateo County, such as those identified in the 2014 San Mateo County Veterans Needs Assessment. In establishing the Veterans Commission, the Board specifically directed that efforts be undertaken to maximize the likelihood that the Commission's membership will reflect the diversity of veterans in San Mateo County, including with respect to race/ethnicity, gender, age and sexual orientation.
Subsequently, on November 3, 2015, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 074159, which increased the membership of the Veterans Commission from nine to eleven regular voting members. Thereafter, on November 17, 2015, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 074183 which expanded the membership of the Veterans Commission to include two alternate members.
DISCUSSION:
This recommendation is for the appointment of Donna Vaillancourt as one full voting member and the reappointment of four Veterans Commissioners as full voting members for another term of office, from June 30, 2020 through June 30, 2023.
Ms. Vaillancourt was appointed as an alternate on August 7, 2018 for a partial term and is now being recommended as a full voting member.
Fred Bair, Alfred Banfield, and Francisco Olivia were each appointed as regular members in November 2015 and are being recommended for reappointments of their second full terms.
Jacob Pletcher was appointed in December 2016 and is being recommended to serve a second full term.
Donna Vaillancourt served as the Director of the Department of Human Resources with San Mateo County until July 2018. During her tenure, she spearheaded new workforce planning and engagement efforts, leadership development and wellness programs to attract and retain talent in a dynamic organization consisting of over 5,500 employees
Donna began her career with the County in 1981 after serving for three years in the U.S Army as a field medic stationed in Germany. She served in various leadership positions during her 37-year career for San Mateo County including Deputy Director of Public Works.
Donna is passionate about helping leaders and organizations succeed and currently provides leadership and career coaching, organizational development consulting and training for various agencies. She has a BS in Human Resources Management, is a California Credentialed County Senior Executive and a Certified Professional Coach.
She has served as a board member for several professional organizations including the County Personnel Administrator’s Association of California, the CSAC Institute of Excellence and is currently a board member for CalPELRA.
Donna is an active community volunteer and is the current board chair for the San Mateo Credit Union where she has served as a director and officer for more than 20 years and she is also advisor to the Key Club of Sequoia High School through Woodside Terrace Kiwanis.
Fred Baer served in the US Army from 1964-1966 as a columnist for the Armed Forces Press Service. He has served Foster City on the Education Committee and the Parks & Rec Committee. He is also a past and current board member of the USA Track & Field Pacific Association. Fred has been inducted into the San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame, the California Community College Football Coach Association Hall of Fame, the California Community College Basketball Coach Hall of Fame and has been awarded a California Community College Athletic Directors' Association Top Honor Award.
Alfred Bainfield was an SSG in the US Army, Disabled Vietnam Veteran. He was appointed to the Veterans Committee as one of the Charter Members. Alfred grew up in Daly City/Colma and is married, living in South SF since 1972. His mother grew up in South San Francisco and his grandfather was a Councilman who ran for office once. Alfred is a former member of the SSF Parks & Recreation Commission, treasurer of the SSF PAL Boosters, treasurer of the YMI #32, member of the SSF Elks, member of the SSF Lions Club, treasurer of the Louis & Lucille Food Basket Program. Alfred's wife is Madeleine, and he has a daughter Gigi and son Michael. He has three grandchildren.
Francisco Oliva is a graduate of California State University. After a period owning a business in Fresno, he later transitioned to working as a computer operator in the late 1970s and became head of Computer Operations at GESCO in the 1980s. Francisco later made the switch to the banking industry and became Chief Information Officer at Valley Wide Bank in the late 80s. He later worked as a financial consultant and, at Visa, as the President of Emerging Technology. He has been a movie and film actor since 2012.
Jacob Pletcher is a Naval veteran originally from Indiana and has called California home for the past 12 years. Medical training brought him out to the Bay Area and he now practices medicine as a cardiac anesthesiologist and ICU physician. In addition to supporting our county's veterans through the commission, Jacob also fights for better medical care for Californians on the board of directors for the San Mateo county branch of the California Medical Association. He lives in Redwood City with his wife and 2 young children.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.