Calaveras County board declares Jan. 9 a county holiday after presidential day of mourning for Jimmy Carter

The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 Tuesday during a special meeting to declare Jan. 9, 2025, a county holiday following the president's declaration of a federal holiday and national day of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter.

County administrative staff said the declaration will apply to county employees but flagged a discrepancy between the county ordinance and the county’s memoranda of understanding with bargaining units that affects represented employees. "We kind of have a strange discrepancy where our personnel ordinance states that every federal holiday, public fast or thanksgiving declared by the president is automatically a county holiday, but our MOUs with the bargaining units state that in order for it to become a county holiday, the board also has to take action," a county staff member said. The staff member said they will work with administration and human resources to bring an ordinance amendment forward to the board.

The item was presented at the start of the Jan. 6 special meeting by administrative staff member Amanda, who read the recommendation: "Regular agenda item 1, action item, administrative office, declare January 9, 2025 as a county holiday following the president's declaration of a federal holiday and national day of mourning for the passing of President James Earl Carter Jr." Supervisor Fan added remarks on the president's service and the county's desire to observe the mourning period: "I think we should all be mourning every president we lose … it's a loss to our country, a loss of leader."

Supervisor Pfalendorf asked whether the board's policy or ordinance would be changed to resolve the mismatch with bargaining-unit agreements; a county staff member confirmed that an ordinance amendment will be drafted and brought back to the board for consideration. There was no online public comment on the item.

Supervisor Pfalendorf moved the motion to declare the county holiday; Supervisor Fan seconded. The board conducted a roll-call vote with the clerk calling each district: District 1 — aye; District 2 — aye; District 3 — aye; District 4 — aye; District 5 — aye. The motion passed, 5-0.

County staff said the ordinance amendment to reconcile the personnel ordinance and the MOUs will be prepared for a future meeting so represented and unrepresented employees will have consistent holiday status.