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Presentations, Proclamations - Daytime Riverbank City Council Session Packed
Pooley
Police Chief Bill Pooley, left, was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his service to the City of Riverbank, presented at Monday afternoons council meeting by Mayor Richard OBrien. Pooley is leaving to become the Undersheriff for the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Department. - photo by VIRGINIA STILL/THE NEWS

 

Hosting its once-a-quarter daytime council meeting, the City of Riverbank saw more than the usual amount of pomp and circumstance on Monday, April 8. The noontime Riverbank City Council session featured a variety of proclamations and presentations.

Police Chief Bill Pooley, who has accepted a new post with the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Department as the Undersheriff, was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his service and dedication to the City of Riverbank. Mayor Richard O’Brien made the presentation, noting that Pooley has served as Chief of Police for Riverbank since 2008.

“I loved being here and it’s very sad to go,” said Pooley in accepting the plaque and well-wishes from the council.

Interim Police Chief Erin Kiely will be taking over the duties at the Riverbank Police Department. Kiely started out with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department in 1997, and has served as a Detective, Patrol Sergeant, has spent almost a decade with the SWAT, and is excited about his expanded role for Riverbank Police Services.

“Riverbank pretty much feels like home for me,” said Kiely. “It’s a good place for me to be.”

Among other personnel changes at the police department, the city also bid farewell to a long-tenured officer.

Detective Mark Copeland was presented with a plaque for his 34 years of service to the City of Riverbank and acknowledged for his loyalty and dedication to the community and the residents. Copeland recently retired from the Riverbank Police Services.

“I really enjoyed working for Riverbank and I’ve seen it grow quite a bit,” said Copeland.

Other presentations were also community minded, with Mayor O’Brien issuing a proclamation to the Riverbank Library that was presented to librarian, Vicky Holt Angulo. The council unanimously proclaimed that April 14 through April 20 will be National Library Week in Riverbank and Stanislaus County.

“(We) urge everyone to visit their library and to take advantage of the wonderful resources available,” stated O’Brien.

Nx Stage Security was congratulated by O’Brien and the city council for its first place win in the 2013 San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge. They also recognized them for being an asset to Riverbank business community.

Council members also approved the guideline amendments for the Small Business Loan Program and Housing Rehabilitation Program and adopted a Microenterprise Technical Assistance Program.

New business on the agenda was an item to move the regular city council meeting on the first meeting of each quarter (January, April, July and October) from noon to 6 p.m., which the council approved for now until they can conduct more research. They plan to have a survey sent out to the residents to see which time they would prefer. The council would like the public to be able to attend their meetings so they are trying to figure out which time is most convenient. The quarterly noon meetings are seen as a way to draw citizens that might not be able to make a nighttime session.

The council was also slated to meet in a special session Tuesday morning, April 9 at the Riverbank Industrial Complex. The 8:30 a.m. meeting was to include a closed session for a personnel evaluation of the City Manager position, then adjourn to open session for a team building workshop. Look for information on that meeting in the April 17 edition of The News.