Why is Fairfax's local government so dysfunctional?

In 2023, The Town Council, with 3 (Barbara Coler, Lisel Blash and Stephanie Hellman) of the former 5 town councilmembers still on the Council, gave the Town Manager complete authority over the hiring and firing of department heads. At one time, the Town Council interviewed department head candidates, no more. The manager also has an employment contract that guarantees the manager 6 months of salary and benefits, about $300,000, should they be let go even a month before their contract expires, it's a strong manager form of government. 

Today the Town Manager with the Mayor & Vice-Mayor set the agendas for Council meetings. The Town Council had become a rubber stamp for the Manager, Department Heads and hired consultants. The decisions for almost every vote at council meetings was 5 yes, 0 no. It's almost impossible for Fairfax's newest two councilmembers elected in November of 2024 and sworn in in December of 2024, who ran on a change platform, to have much of a say on the direction of Fairfax. You are probably noticing the 3 to 2 votes these days. The Town Attorney clearly represents the Town Council majority, even when they are going in the wrong direction.

Fairfax's land use consultants came up with a plan that would turn Fairfax into the high rise housing capital of the Ross Valley. They prepared what they call Workforce Housing Opportunity sites, WHO-A, allowing up to seven 7 story apartment buildings in the Downtown area with ministerial department head approvals only, no Environmental Impact Reports and no appeals to the Town Council and it was approved unanimously by the former Town Council. Guess who either made or 2nd the motions? At one time, Fairfax mayors and councilmembers took responsibility for their votes, now they want to blame someone else. Councilmembers can run but they can't hide from their votes on the record.

Here are the sites, how many local jobs will Fairfax lose when commercial properties are turned into housing sites? the Fairfax Garage & Body Shop, the Recreational Vehicle sales lot next to the Bicycle Museum and the small businesses between Harry's Hill and St Rita's on SF Drake Blvd, the burned out former Fairfax French Laundry parcel & the two story Fairfax Square property across from Fairfax Park on Bolinas Road and the Bank of America building and School Street Plaza on Broadway. Selecting Workforce Housing Sites may work in large cities with thousands of jobs, but not in small towns with limited job opportunities like Fairfax. Imagine Fairfax with 7 downtown high rise housing towers!

Fairfax voters should have the opportunity to vote on such major changes for our Town. Historically Fairfax voters have exercised their State Constitutional rights with  Initiatives, Referendums and even Recalls. In 2014 over 1,000 Fairfax voters signed a Referendum in 10 days to overturn a Town Council zoning amendment adding hundreds of units to various parcels adversely impacting previously protected properties from over-development and Fairfax's Town Attorney threw out the re-zoningof hundreds of parcels Referendum. We had to go to the Marin Superior Court to overturn the Town Attorney's decision and have the Referendum reinstated.

Also, Fairfax businesses should not be subject to intimidation, retaliation, retribution and boycotts for their support of positions in opposition to current Town practices and that has to stop.

Thank you, Frank Egger, 7 time Fairfax Mayor