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Support Boyd Grant
updated: Sep 22, 2011, 9:20 AM

By Donna Argus

Anyone who has been fishing at the Goleta pier has probably seen Boyd Grant, the friendly, white-haired man in his 60s sporting a goatee hanging out the Angler's Center.

Mr. Grant is a Santa Barbara County volunteer who is out on the pier at daybreak each morning, seven days a week, cleaning up fishing line, hooks and kelp left by overnight anglers as well as broken bottles, graffiti, and trash from hoodlums. He was nominated as a Local Hero to the Santa Barbara Independent for his efforts in turning the pier from a liability into an asset.

Now, after three years of enthusiastic service, Mr. Grant is being dismissed by the new Deputy Director of the Parks Department, Ken Roney, for allegedly volunteering less than the required 20 hours per week, and not benefiting the county, but a fishing organization instead.

I stopped going out on the Goleta pier after the gang and drug activity, fish mutilations and trash became unbearable and have been so appreciative that I can once again take my son out there to fish - Mr. Grant's presence has essentially eliminated those problems. I am worried that things will return to the previous situation once he is gone.

Besides cleaning the pier each morning, washing down the benches, checking on hazardous conditions and running the Angler's Center, Mr. Grant works with the Wildlife Care Network, insuring that injured wildlife is protected until it can be transported to help. He also protects the resident wildlife from harassment. He is able to see areas of the beach and water that are not visible to the lifeguards and has gotten help to several people in trouble who would otherwise not have been noticed; he warns kayakers, swimmers, and paddle-boarders away from the dangers of the pier and fishing hooks. He has kept the atmosphere at the pier family oriented, knows the hoodlums and keeps an eye on them, thereby reducing their presence at the pier.

If you have enjoyed the "new" pier, the Angler's Center, which supplies fishing poles, gear, bait and instruction to kids and families learning to fish, the disabled kid's fishing day, or just a safe and beautiful pier you can thank Mr. Grant. In return for his service he gets to park his RV at the beach parking lot. But now he may have to find another "home". Will the Goleta pier return to being an ugly and dangerous place when Mr. Grant is gone? I am contacting SB County Supervisor Janet Wolf at jwolf@sbcbos2.org and Brian Roney Contact@sbparks.org (805) 568-2461. There is a petition being circulated in support of Boyd Grant by Ken Jones find it here

The County of Santa Barbara Parks Department would like to thank Boyd Grant for his long and committed service to Goleta beach and pier visitors. (09/24/11)

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Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 216321	2011-09-22 09:42 AM
I never really spoke to Boyd, but anyone who has gone fishing there more than once or twice should know who he is. I have seen him out there quite a bit doing cleanup, but they really dismissed him for not meeting the hours requirement? What is the loss to the county for allowing a man to benefit a fishing organization as well as a park? Although, I don't know that I necessarilly agree with him getting special privileges to live at the beach in his RV when everyone else is prohibited, if thats what their concern is.
COMMENT 216323	2011-09-22 09:53 AM
Can't find the petition on the link; dang it!
COMMENT 216324	2011-09-22 09:54 AM
There is more to this story than in posted here.
COMMENT 216326	2011-09-22 10:01 AM
Is there a resident park host in addition to Boyd? @321's comment indicates Boyd is living in a prohibited area in an RV. So he is separate from the resident ranger? If Boyd is in addition to the park host, maybe we should petition parks to do a better job of managing the pier without Boyd and without handing out special privelages.
COMMENT 216332	2011-09-22 10:10 AM
I think you have to ask Ken Jones about it - not sure if the petition itself is online.
COMMENT 216340P	2011-09-22 10:20 AM
Mr. Grant, in addition to establishing and subsequently running the Angler Center 20 hours per week as a volunteer, is/was a resident Park Host contracted to perform an additional 20 hours of service each week cleaning bathrooms and picking up litter in exchange for utility hookups and a space to park his RV. It is the unsupported allegation that he is failing to fulfill that contractual obligation that is being disputed by a petition signed by those who witness his work on behalf of the Park.
COMMENT 216350	2011-09-22 10:41 AM
@326. Parking at the beach parking lot is prohibited after sunset unless you are on the pier fishing. Basically no camping in cars or hanging out in the parking lot. From what I've heard too, its a pretty good ticket (few hundred dollars for "camping"). @340P. I usually fish in the evening so I'm not aware of how much time he dedicates there. On the weekends though I do see him in the angler center, which I have to say is a nice addition. As for the cleaning of the benches, I've only seen the ranger who lives at the beach pressure washing them off. (the one who normally drives the tractor/truck to pick up boats off the crane). This was a while back, so I can't speak to whether Boyd does this now or not. The park is definitely cleaner than it was 10 years ago, but I also try to do my part by throwing trash away and whatnot.
COMMENT 216378P	2011-09-22 11:34 AM
All I had to do was read "new Deputy Director" to know why Boyd was let go. The article made if clear it was not his work ethic. "New" directors always have a need to make their mark on the position and some make it quicker then others. Whether Boyd did or did not make the 20 hour limit I can not say but his work ethic seems impeccable to me. I'd keep him even if he didn't.
COMMENT 216394	2011-09-22 12:01 PM
What an insane arrangement...I'm glad the city terminated it! The city had created a situation where its potential liability was unlimited, but it was only assured of a minimal reward. A smart attorney would note that Boyd was an employee of the city--he performed services in exchange for non-monetary compensation. As an employee, the city would be legally liable for any damages Mr. Boyd might cause to others, and it would be liable for any harm or injury that might come to him in the performance of his duties. And since he wasn't properly hired, he wouldn't be covered by workman's comp or liability insurance. This is a nightmare scenario for any city/county legal department. I'm just amazed that such a foolish setup was allowed to last as long as it did.
COMMENT 216399	2011-09-22 12:06 PM
Boyd "worked" at the pier for decades before he was awarded the special position and was allowed to park his RV there. After his retirement he could no longer afford his rent and moved into his RV. At first, he'd park it at Goleta beach all day long, and voluntarily clean and hang out on the pier. Then at night he had to find a legal place to park, to sleep. Some businesses, and a Goleta church for awhile, allowed him to park. I don't know how he got it, but for the past few years, in thanks for the decades of work he's done for the site, he was allowed to build the Angler Center, continue to clean the pier and the beach in general, and in return he was allowed to continually park at the beach. I think this makes perfect sense. To renounce this and send Boyd on his way, makes for a worse beach, park and pier, and sets a partially homeless guy out on his rear. Despicable. I'm going to hunt down that petition and sign it!
COMMENT 216403	2011-09-22 12:09 PM
394 - foolish maybe to you. I can tell you have never fished from the Pier. If you have, you would have met Boyd, and seen him at work. You are not a member of the community that Boyd services, and you have no basis to call this an insane arrangement. It's a wonderful, perfect arrangement.
BURNTTHISTLE	2011-09-22 12:32 PM
to 216394 first of all Goleta Beach is county park and like most of are larger county parks is staffed with 'camp hosts' along with regular county employees. These 'camp hosts' provide a service for the county in these tough times of tightening budgets and layoffs, by trading work for for a space to park their trailer and live. They are are ones who empty the garbage. It seems like a reasonable arrangement. County legal staff has signed off on this and it has been going on for a great many years. Usually the camp host can only stay for a set period of time, 3 or 6 months and then must move on. They may then reapply to return after another set period of time. This gives others the chance to fill these posititions. Many of these 'hosts' are retired. They serve at the whim of the county. Mr Boyd would still be able to work and staff the angler center. He has just lost his living arrangement.
COMMENT 216414P	2011-09-22 12:55 PM
394: Your attitude terrifies me. It is a symptom of much that is wrong with our society. Common sense was thrown out and replaced with legal shenanigans and fears. Quit suing everyone over everything. Laws, politics, bureaucracy, and the evil effects of money and greed will be the death of us all. This was a common sense fair trade -- favors rendered for favors rendered. "You can park/live here if you fix the place up and keep it cleaned up." I'd like to return to that kind of common sense, rather than run from it. Maybe we wouldn't be so broke and broken...
COMMENT 216433	2011-09-22 01:51 PM
Well said, 414P!
COMMENT 216482	2011-09-22 04:04 PM
I am not only shocked and dismayed by this news but find it beyond absurd that it is happening. My husband and I never went to fish from Goleta Pier before Boyd started volunteering there, it was dangerous, filthy and not a place to take our grandson. He has transformed the place and it is heartwarming to watch him interact with the children and their parents, patiently teaching them how to rig and bait their rods. He loans them equipment others have discarded, saves and distributes a little bait to those who might not have it for them to try. He teaches them about caring for the ocean, the pier and the fish they catch.
COMMENT 216502	2011-09-22 05:05 PM
To continue.... We fish quite often in the morning and interact with Boyd, he is always cleaning, picking up, off to do his graffiti run, etc. Who is this Roney, find out and you will begin to see where this is coming from? He needs to be set straight, does he get out there and experience first hand the HUGE positive impact Boyd has on this park? This is a major mistake that will not only affect us and our family personally, but all the kids and decent people who have been coming back to use our park. This needs to be FIXED!!!!!!
GILBERT	2011-09-22 05:36 PM
Brian Roney is the "interim" Parks Dept. Director . He, in concert with the County Supervisors , is behind the move to charge beach access fees at Goleta , Hendry's, Summerland and Rincon Parks. Sure hope people show up when it's time to protest these fee proposals. Lets show Roney & the Supes that the public will not be steamrolled on beach access fees.
COMMENT 216517	2011-09-22 06:03 PM
I'll speak up for Boyd Grant, as well. Getting a place to park an RV in return for a set number of hours of work is standard practice in parks, state as well as county. There have been others besides Boyd, but what's been noticeable while he's been there is how the litter that seems to be humans' calling cards is picked up. The bathroom also has been cleaned whenever I've been there. I can't speak to the hours spent, only the end results. And as for his efforts on the pier, I did not know it was all volunteer, in addition to the time spent in return for housing. What a gift to the County this is! As others have written, he's helped young and old make the pier a welcome place instead of a threatening one that it used to be. How can they not value his efforts and do everything possible to keep him there, including paying him for his time at the Angler's Center. It's beyond understanding and there must be something else going on here as is not infrequently so, unfortunately, with government employees.
COMMENT 216600	2011-09-23 07:09 AM
The California State Park system uses a similar host arrangement. A couple I spoke with in Big Sur, retired teachers, were living their dream, RVing from park to park for 3 to 6 month stints. Rincon was frequented by perverts of several persuasions, car burglars, etc. before the host program. That said, it is clear that there is a lack of clarity and transparency. Some hosts are slackers, and lend a trailer trash scent to the air. Sounds like it wasn't this guy. The parks dept has been falling apart forever. Mike Pahos was the last decent superintendent we had. (Santa Barbara Shores acquisition among other accomplishments) Dump the bureacrats, excessive management. Inspire the employees, most of whom just don't give a damn about the dept because it is so poorly run.
COMMENT 216779	2011-09-23 02:53 PM
It seems this "Interim" Parks Dep't. Director Roney, is bringing us all change we don't need, and wants to start charging fees to anyone who wants to use a public beach. Instead of sitting still while he terminates a beneficial volunteer worker, who has effected a great improvement, at ZERO financial cost to the taxpayers, perhaps we the citizens should get behind a community-wide effort to terminate HIM, since in actuality, he IS our employee, is he not?
COMMENT 216827P	2011-09-23 06:21 PM
Sounds like the one that needs to go is Mr. Roney. I am on my way to sign the petition. It ain't broke Mr. Roney. Don't "fix" it.
LOURAY	2011-09-24 02:26 PM
Where is Leslie Knope when you need her?

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