By JACOB LOPEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
(File photo)
Assistant City Manager Hector Jalomo is seen inside his San Benito Municipal Building office.
San Benito’s Assistant City Manager, Hector “Chuck” Jalomo, will be retiring on Oct. 31.
Come the day he retires, Jalomo will have worked for the City of San Benito for 47 years and five months.
It was 1966 when he began his work with the City at the tender age of 16; he was still in high school at that time.
“I worked three years for the City under a federal program which I was getting paid by the federal government,” said Jalomo.
He left the City job for a period of about 10 months, adding, “Then I was called back, and I’ve been here for 44 years and five months — the second time.”
He said that working for the City has been “a pleasure” and “an honor,” further noting, “I have grown with the City.”
Jalomo said, “I was just 16 years old … and here I am at age 64. I have enjoyed working here, and I know that I’m going to miss it, but it’s something that has to happen, you know?”
During the 10-month period that he spent away from the City, Jalomo was a contractor who worked installing fences and building small additions to homes as well as doing “carpentry work here and there.”
As for who will absorb his duties, Jalomo said, “I have no idea.”
The City faced many obstacles in the time that Jalomo has worked.
“For the past 40-plus years, we’ve had challenges — you know — different types, different sections of town, different scenarios.”
Jalomo went on to elaborate about some of those challenges and cited current project he described as, “humongous.”
With Certificate of Obligation (CO) funding, the City is making some renovations.
“The oldest part of town, where we are cleaning out dirty old sanitary sewer lines that have never been cleaned,” said Jalomo.
He said the City is also rebuilding deteriorated manholes and installing new lines.
“It started a few months ago, and it’s phase one of something that needs to continue in the future,” said Jalomo as the City continues to make future updates.
“I’ll be around, and I’m here to help in any way I can. What else can I say? This is my town. I was born and raised here,” said Jalomo.
Regarding Jalomo’s position, City Manager Manuel Lara indicated that the City Commission has phased out the post due to limited money in the budget. For several years, the City employed two assistant city managers in Jalomo, who was responsible for public utilities in the like, and Arturo Rodriguez, who oversees emergency and enforcement services such as police, fire and code and inspection. It remained unclear as of presstime whether Rodriguez would also absorb Jalomo’s public utilities duties.
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9 comments
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Where’s the Party At? I’ll take the Parroni and the limes
Peske,in general names like Jalomo,and God are capitalized,but when you have been in control for 47 years and five months you can do what ever you please.That’s why san benni is in such sad shape,now,vato.
Are you kidding…sadder than sad. And we wasted 8 years with King Joe. If Jalomo wanted to tell something, he could start with the truth about the ChinaGate, RaspaGate, and all of the other fiascos of the past third of a century.
Maybe Chuck could have a ‘Come to Jesus’ moment on his way out the door and tell all,/i> about the water plant debacle. He knows it all. Maybe he’ll get a subpoena on the way out the door??
Maybe he is just fed up and tired of being told or micromanaged by Commissioners JD Gonzalez, JD Penny, and Rene Villafranco about what streets or sidewalks to repair and how to do their jobs.
Those guys are bullies and are lead by JD. The others are clueless.
Jalomo still needs to give up some of the crooks that have been robbing this City for generations! YOU know who they are. Chuck knows enough to help the City that has given him a job all of his life!
Tell it Like it Is, Chuckie. When you get subpenaed, do something different…tell the truth. Go out with some glory!
You should thank god for a man like jalomo
Thank God.
Talk about dedication, wow! Congratulations! I certainly hope that you truly enjoy your retirement, because you have certainly earned it. Mr. Jalomo, you are a true example of a dedicated professional. May God continue to bless you and your family.