Jeff Zellner — in his own words — is going to get “to sit at the adult table.”
Zellner’s comments drew chuckles during Tuesday’s Manteca City Council meeting when appointments were made to the Manteca Planning Commission.
Zellner had been serving as an alternate for the past two years. He was elevated to a four-year-term “at the adult table” on Tuesday. Eric Hayes, who has served on the commission for 16 years, was reappointed.
The new alternate member is Ron Laffranchi.
Laffranchi currently serves on the HOPE Ministries board that provides family shelters, is a board member of the Friends of Manteca Parks & Recreation, is a member of the City of Manteca’s Water Conservation Committee, is a Manteca Rotarian, and serves on the Manteca-based South San Joaquin School of Education board, and is a member of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce.
He works in real estate through Fairway Real Estate and Property Management. Laffranchi is a lifelong Manteca resident and graduate of Manteca High.
Zellner is the owner of Manteca Insurance and Financial Services.
He is the current president of the HOPE Ministries that provides family shelters, is a past president and current board member of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce, and is treasurer for Manteca Rotary.
Zellner also finished third in the Manteca City Council races last month for two available seats.
Hayes is a ship manager for BAE Systems with 25 years of contract experience working in ship repair. He finished fifth in the Nov. 8 council race.
The other three planning commissioners that are serving terms that end in December 2018 are Jose Nuno, Leonard Smith, and Robert Alaniz.
Council makes
appointments to
other commissions
Dave Brietenbucher was reappointed to the Manteca Parks and Recreation Commission by the Manteca City Council while Parminder Singh Sahl was retained as the alternate member.
Breitenbucher has served for 10 years on the commission and has 30 years as a youth swim coach. He has served as a board member of Give Every Child a Chance and well as Agape Villages that works with foster families and kids.
He recently retired after 30 years with the Manteca Fire Department.
Sahl is a cell director for Western Digital.
He has worked as a volunteer with United Way to clean and paint classrooms as well as preparing food and other kitchen work at the Manteca Sikh Temple. He has coordinated annual community and cultural events in Manteca and participates in the Flags Over Manteca endeavor. While in India, he was part of the National Service Scheme that cleaned slum areas.
Other commission members are Griffin Cheek and Jennifer Andermahr who are appointed by the council and Clara Schmiedt and Marco Galeazzi who are appointed by the Manteca Unified School District board.
East Union High freshman Jack Lill was appointed to the Manteca Youth Advisory Commission. He is the freshman class vice president and served two years as a vacation Bible school crew leader.
The City Council is still seeking applications to fill a remaining vacancy on the youth commission.
Other commission members are Ailaina Eva Romero Cavanaugh, Armanjoat Singh, Andrew Brunn, Ayrika Romero Cavanaugh, Bradley “Trey” Moorhead III, Jacob Silva, Julian Gosal, Michal Isiah Ledesma, Veronika Romero Cavanaugh, and Ricky Herrera.
Appointed to the Manteca Senior Advisory Commission were Janet D’Ambrogio, Carol McDaniel, Robert Serpa, and Beverly Villines.
Villines is a retired computer systems analyst with the Defense Logistics Agency and served for two years as district president and local president for the American Legion Auxiliary.
Serpa is a Vietnam veteran who retired after working as a maintenance worker with the Fremont Unified School District. He serves on the Measure M Oversight Committee for Manteca Unified School District and has served as a surrogate parent for students who need representation at Independent Education Progress reviews. He has served as a tutor locally and in the Bay Area. He also serves as commander for the American Legion in Fremont.
McDaniel is a travel specialist with Vacation Discounters and managed a leisure travel agency during her 27 years as a travel specialist. She volunteers at the senior center as do the other appointees plus she is involved with the children’s program at Calvary Community Church.
D’Ambrogio is retired from the State of California Unemployment Insurance Department.
She volunteers at the Livermore Veterans Administration Hospital.
Other commission members are Tom Stewart, David Byrd, Peggy Thompson, and Maxine Van Middendorp.