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Home My Public Portal AboutM 2003-03-21 - CC_sp LYNWOOD CITY COUNCIL O 6� , SPECIAL MEETING MARCH 21, 2003 The City Council of the City of Lynwood met in a Special Meeting in the Council Chambers, 11330 Bullis Road omthe above date at 3:04 p.m. Mayor Pedroza presiding. � Councilman Byrd, Reyes, Richards•and Pedroza answered the roll call. , Mayor Pro Tem Rodriguez was absent. City Manager Gonzales and City Attorney Montgomery were absent. Also present were Assistant City Manager Hempe, City Clerk Hooper and City Treasurer Pygatt. City Clerk Hooper announced that the agenda had been duly posted in accordance with the Brown Act. Mayor Pedroza announced that Public Oral Communications was not placed on the Agenda but if anyone wishes to speak they may do so. Councilman Reyes stated he had received a phone call from Mayor Pro Tem Rodriguez requesting Council grant him a 15-minute waiting period. Mayor Pedroza stated Council members were aware of the meeting and the meeting needed to start on time. Councilman Richards suggested hearing the Public Oral Communications before going into Closed Session. ^ PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (All agencies) Margaret Araujo, 3621 Cedar Avenue - Thanked Mayor Pedroza for nominating her as Recipient of the Women of Courage Award and other elected officials for their support ' and attendance to the 50` District Assemblyman. i Jose Higuera, 3626 Lugo Avenue - Questioned why there is no Translator available at special meetings. Reminded City Council that they are having too many special council � meetings and behind this meeting there is a special interest. Also asked for City Council to reconsider not dismissing the City Manager and City Attorneys. ; Sylvia Henon, 3585 Beechwood Avenue - Stated she is pleased something is being done � about the City Attomeys. Mayor Pro Tem Rodriguez arrived at 3:10 p.m. , Lorene Reed, Lynwood resident - Complained about literature being distributed in Spanish only. J Carol Reese, 11814 4` Street - Questioned why City Council is scheduling special -_.. meetings during the time most people are working and can't attend. CLOSED SESSION Mayor Pedroza stated, with respect to every item of business to be discussed injoint ' Closed Session Pursuant to Section 54957: ! Item #5: CLOSED SESSION ITEMS A. Public Employee - Appointment, employment, evaluation of perforrnance, discipline, or dismissal (Cal Gov't Code Section 54957) City Council will consider action on the following positions i f1,�� 1. City Manager �� 2. City Attorney 3. (add any other positions to be considered) Item #6: REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION AND MOTIONS AS NEEDED Councilman Richards suggested opening Lynwood Redevelopment Agency Closed Session Items for joint discussion with Council. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Rodriguez, seconded by Councilman Byrd. Councilman Reyes questioned whether Council Item #5-A3 and LRA Item #1-A3 had a legal description number in the Govemment Code Book. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Rodriguez, seconded by Councilman Reyes to remove ` Council Item #5-A3 and LRA Item #1-A3 from the Agenda. City Clerk Hooper advised Council members the Deputy City Attorney Sylva could gide a legal ruling on this matter. Deputy City Attorney Sylvia reported that in order to take action you must itemize the � employee to be discussed specifically the title or name, which in this case two titles have been itemized. Mayor Pro Tem Rodriguez requested clarification on what items would be discussed in Closed Session. Mayor Pedroza clarified they would be discussing Item # 1 and #2 of the . Closed Session Items. It was moved by Councilman Richards, seconded by Councilman Byrd and carried to recess to Closed Session at 3:16 p.m. Council reconvened at 4:09 p.m. Mayor Pedroza stated Council met on the aforementioned matters and stated on: Item #5: CLOSED SESSION ITEMS A. Public Employee — Appointment, employment, evaluation of performance, discipline, or dismissal (Cal Gov't Code Section 54957) City Council will consider action on the following positions 1. City Manager — It was moved by Mayor Pedroza, seconded by Councilman Byrd to put City Manager Faustin Gonzales in Administrative Leave-pending an evaluation and start an Audit in his Department. Motion passed 3-2 Councilmen Byrd, Richazds, Pedroza — "YES" Councilmen Reyes and Rodriguez - "NO" It was moved by Mayor Pedroza, seconded by Councilman Richards to appoint Assistant City Manager Loriy Hempe as Interim City Manager and instruct staff to conduct open recruitment for the position of City Manager. Also Interim City _ Manager Aempe may apply for the City Manager's position. Motion passed 3— Yes, 1 No, 1 Abstain i Councilmen Byrd, Richards, Pedroza —"YES" Councilman Reyes — "NO" Councilman Rodriguez — "ABSTAIN" �� 2. City Attorney - It was moved by Couucilman Richards, seconded by Councilman Byrd to dismiss City Attorney Michael B. Montgomery and appoint James Casso of the Firm of Arnold M. Alvarez Glasman-Colvin Motion passed 3-2 Councilmen Byrd, Richazds, Pedroza - "YES" Councilmen Reyes and Rodriguez - "NO" Item #6: REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION AND MOTIONS AS NEEDED � City Clerk Hooper stated the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder does the Elections of the City of Lynwood and City Clerk or City Council does not do it. Stated she has to answer to the Lynwood Residents, Secretary of State, District Attorney, and City Council, and will not do anything to jeopardize the elections in the City of Lynwood. Asked that the public City Council and the Assistant City Manager to assist her in disseminating this information. , CITY COUNCIL ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION Councilman Byrd - Stated it is unfortunate that they had to come to these decisions but on several occasions he addressed many concerns about the legal fees. Hopes that City Council comes together and works together. Councilman Richards - Stated they must work hard to come together in solidarity. Councilman Reyes - Stated that thanks to greed and corruption they are going back to the I same dictatorship as in the past. ' Mayor Pro Tem Rodriguez - No Comments � Councilman Richards -Commented there is never dictatorship so long as the particular person has his/her way. Councilman Byrd - Stated the City Manager should be neutral and work with all five (5) ' council members, not just three (3) council members. i Mayor Pedroza - Stated that his actions taken tonight aze not personal but it is a matter of business. Stated he tried working with the City Manager and City Attomeys but many things were not being accomplished and they needed changes. ' Councilman Richazds - For the record, stated he had worked successfully with City � Manager Gonzales from 1993 through 1998, but actually started having problems with Mr. Gonzales in December 1997. Stated rumors need to stop, as there is no devised � racism in this matter. ADJOURNMENT Having no further discussion, it was moved by Councilman Byrd, seconded by Councilman Richards and carried to adjourn the Special Council Meeting at 4:33 p.m. ,�� .� � �_��'�� F inando Pedroza, Mayor ��e.� �, ��1�� Andrea L. Hooper, City Clerk I